Abstract:
Methods for preparing a semiconductor assembly are disclosed. In an implementation, the technique includes providing a support substrate and a bonding surface thereon, providing a donor substrate having a weakened zone that defines a useful layer and a bonding surface on the useful layer, and providing an interface layer of a predetermined material on the bonding surface of either the support substrate or the useful layer to provide a bonding surface thereon. The method also includes molecularly bonding the bonding surface of the interface layer to the bonding surface of the other of the support substrate or the useful layer to form a separable bonding interface therebetween, and to thus form the semiconductor assembly, and heat treating the semiconductor assembly to a temperature of at least 1000 to 1100° C. without substantially increasing molecular bonding between the bonding surface of the interface layer and the bonding surface of the other of the support substrate or the useful layer, so that the separable bonding interface maintains a sufficiently weak bond that can later be overcome by applying stresses to detach the useful layer from the donor substrate.
Abstract:
A method is presented for cutting an assembly that includes two layers of material having a first surface and a second surface. The method includes providing a weakened interface between the two layers that defines an interface ring about the periphery of the assembly, providing a high-pressure zone at the interface ring, and providing at least one controllable low-pressure zone in the vicinity of at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The technique also includes supplying the high-pressure zone with a controllable high-pressure force, and attacking the interface ring with at least one mechanical force in combination with the high-pressure force to cut the assembly.
Abstract:
An automatic cutting device is described for cutting an assembly. The assembly includes a material having a weakened zone therein that defines a useful layer and being attached to a source substrate. The cutting device includes a cutting mechanism and a holding and positioning mechanism operatively associated with the cutting mechanism. The holding and positioning mechanism positions the material so that the cutting mechanism detaches the layer from the source substrate along the weakened zone. The cutting device also includes a control mechanism for adjusting at least two different portions of the assembly during detachment of the layer to facilitate a more precise detachment.
Abstract:
Techniques are shown in which substrates having a first layer of a first material and second layer of a second material, wherein the second material is less noble than the first material, is provided by bonding the first and second layers together with an amorphous layer interposed there between. The amorphous material may be deposited on a bonding face of the first layer, second layer, or both, before the operation of bonding the first and second layers. The layer with less noble material may be a supporting layer and the other layer may be an active layer for forming components in optics, electronics, or opto-electronics. The amorphous layer may be polished before the bonding operation.
Abstract:
A method for producing a semiconductor entity is described. The method includes providing a donor substrate having a zone of weakness at a predetermined depth to define a thin layer, and the donor substrate includes a bonding interface. A receiver substrate is also provided that includes at least one motif on its surface. The technique further includes bonding the donor substrate at the bonding interface to the at least one motif on the receiver substrate, and supplying sufficient energy to detach a portion of the thin layer from the donor substrate located at the at least one motif and to rupture bonds within the thin layer. The energy thus supplied is insufficient to rupture the bond at the bonding interface. Also described is fabrication of a wafer and the use of the method to produce chips suitable for use in electronics, optics, or optoelectronics applications.
Abstract:
A tool for disuniting two wafers, at least one of which is for use in fabricating substrates for microelectronics, optoelectronics, or optics, the tool comprising two gripper members suitable for being fixed temporarily to respective opposite faces of the two wafers that are united with each other, and a disuniting control device suitable for moving said members relative to each other. The tool is remarkable in that the disuniting control device comprises an actuator for positively displacing said gripper members and for inducing controlled flexing in at least one of said members. This makes it easier to disunite the wafers while reducing the risk of damaging them. The invention is applicable to disuniting wafers that have been weakened by implantation, that have been temporarily bonded together, etc.
Abstract:
An automatic cutting device is described for cutting an assembly. The assembly includes a material having a weakened zone therein that defines a useful layer and being attached to a source substrate. The cutting device includes a cutting mechanism and a holding and positioning mechanism operatively associated with the cutting mechanism. The holding and positioning mechanism positions the material so that the cutting mechanism detaches the layer from the source substrate along the weakened zone. The cutting device also includes a control mechanism for adjusting at least two different portions of the assembly during detachment of the layer to facilitate a more precise detachment.
Abstract:
A preventive treatment method for a multilayer semiconductor structure having a support substrate, at least one intermediate layer and a surface layer in which the surface layer is to be subjected to a subsequent chemical treatment. The method includes forming a protective layer between the intermediate layer and the surface layer. The protective layer is made from a material chosen to be sufficiently resistant to the chemical treatment to protect the intermediate layer from chemical attack.
Abstract:
A stress absorbing microstructure assembly including a support substrate having an accommodation layer that has plurality of motifs engraved or etched in a surface, a buffer layer and a nucleation layer. The stress absorbing microstructure assembly may also include an insulating layer between the buffer layer and the nucleation layer. This assembly can receive thick epitaxial layers thereon with concern of causing cracking of such layers.
Abstract:
A method for heat treatment of a semiconductor wafer placed on a support. The method includes subjecting the wafer to a heat treatment with a slow temperature rise from an initial temperature to a treatment ending temperature, and minimizing slip lines that would otherwise result in the wafer from the heat treatment by introducing at least one temperature plateau of constant temperature and of predetermined duration in the heat treatment before reaching the treatment ending temperature. The method reduces the temperature gradients on the wafer to minimize slip lines in the wafer resulting from the heat treatment.