Fabricating Sapphire Semiconductor Devices

Sapphire Substrates In Stock

Researchers rejoice! We have a large inventory of sapphire substrates in stock. Below is just a few of what's available.

• 50.8mm 430um SSP and DSP C-M 0.2 Deg
• 50.8mm 100um SSP and DSP C-plane off to M Plane 0.2 Deg
• 50.8mm - Other specs and orienations available
• 100mm 650um SSP
• 100mm MECH GRADE - LOW PRICE!
• Other diameters from but not limited to 10mm x 10mm, 76.2mm, 150mm and 200mm.

Get Your Quote FAST! Or, Buy Sapphire online and start researching today!

What Are The Mechanical Properties of Sapphire?

Sapphire (single-crystal aluminum oxide, Al2O3) is renowned for its exceptional mechanical and optical properties. It's widely used in various applications, including watch crystals, optical windows, and semiconductor wafers due to its high hardness, transparency, and resistance to chemical and thermal damage. Here are the mechanical and optical properties for sapphire substrates:

Mechanical Properties:

1. Density: Approximately 3.98 g/cm³.
2. Young's Modulus (E): Typically around 345-400 GPa (gigapascals), indicating its high stiffness.
3. Poisson's Ratio: About 0.25-0.30.
4. Hardness: Sapphire is one of the hardest materials known, with a Mohs hardness of 9, surpassed only by diamond.
5. Tensile Strength: Typically around 400-480 MPa (megapascals).
6. Compressive Strength: Exceeds 2 GPa, much higher than most other optical materials.
7. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: Approximately 5 x 10⁻⁶/°C to 6 x 10⁻⁶/°C.

Optical Properties:

1. Refractive Index: Ranges from approximately 1.762 to 1.778 for visible wavelengths (it's birefringent, so the refractive index varies with the direction of propagation and polarization).
2. Transmission: Sapphire is highly transparent in the range from the ultraviolet (UV) to the mid-infrared (IR), with a transmission rate often exceeding 80% in the UV to near-IR range.
3. Birefringence: Due to its crystalline structure, sapphire is birefringent. This property means that light rays entering the material split into two rays, each with a different refractive index.
4. Absorption: Sapphire has minimal absorption in the UV to near-IR range but begins to absorb in the deep UV and far-IR regions.

It's crucial to note that the exact properties can vary based on the specific orientation and quality of the sapphire substrate. If you're considering using sapphire for a particular application, consulting with the manufacturer or supplier for exact property values is advisable.

 

Sapphire Semiconductor Substrates

Sapphire semiconductor devices are fabricated from high quality optical grade Czochralski sapphire. Our integrated facilities allow regulation of the production of substrates from crystal growth to fabrication, and to accommodate special requests on very short notice.

Sapphire semiconductor substrates are available in all orientations including R-axis (10-12), C-axis (0001), A-axis (11-20), and M-axis (11-10). Substrates are available in various shapes (circular, rectangle, or square), from a few mm up to 100mm in size, and finishes according to customer specification. Primary flats(as per industry standards) are provided on circular substrates for orientation purposes; secondary flats are available on request. Substrate thickness' range from 0.013" (0.25mm) to 0.025" (0.675mm), depending on your particular application requirements.

We have wafers in stock!

Blue LED substrates

Researchers use our high-quality sapphire substrates fabricate Gallium Nitride LED based devices. Substrate tolerances and surface finish are keys to Gallium Nitride device production and yield. Sapphire Products sets the standards for flatness and surface finish. Our strong product development team uses industry standard measurement techniques, such as AFM, X-ray rocking curves and surface analysis to study surface and crystalline quality of substrates. C-axis [0001] wafers precisely oriented to within ± 0.25° and primary flat tolerances to ± 0.5° are available in 2" diameter. Other sapphire orientations, misoriented substrates, and wafer tolerances are available.

What is Sapphire?

Sapphire is an anisotropic monocrystalline material whose thermal expansion and hardness vary greatly depending on the orientation. Sapphire is used in various alignments, such as diamond, gold, silver, copper and even platinum.

Insaco has had experience with the material since 1947 and can give you an idea of how orientation might affect your application. For most applications, orientation is not important and should be considered as a coexistence compared to other materials such as gold and silver.

Birefringence eliminates the optics on the c-axis of the crystal, and therefore the c-axes of the sapphires should be specified for certain optical applications to avoid this effect. Sapphire is also a material with optical refractive properties that balances wave transmission at all angles.

Industrial sapphires are created by melting alumina (Al2O3) at 2040 degrees Celsius and then promoting crystal growth through seed and careful environmental control, but there are many limitations to what can be done. The result is a bar - like a crystal block called boules, which has to be cut completely into usable shapes and sizes. Breeding has developed several unique growth methods, which differ in different qualities, sizes and costs. Czochralski - HEM-Kiropole method enables high optical quality of the sappers, EEG - Stephanov methods enable targeted growth and so on.

Sapphires and rubies can influence colour and optical properties without significantly affecting mechanical, thermal or electrical properties.

Sapphire Total Thickness Variation (TTV) Less Than 1 Micron

Sapphire wafers with a 1-micron total thickness variation (TTV) are high-precision wafers used in applications where uniformity and flatness are critical. Some key applications include:

1. LED Manufacturing: Sapphire wafers are widely used as substrates for the production of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A 1-micron TTV ensures uniform epitaxial growth, which is essential for the efficiency and performance of the LEDs.

2. Optoelectronics: Sapphire wafers serve as substrates for optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors, lasers, and optical sensors. The high flatness helps maintain consistent optical properties.

3. Semiconductor Applications: In RF (radio frequency) devices and power electronics, sapphire wafers are used for their excellent dielectric properties. A low TTV is essential for accurate device fabrication.

4. Microelectronics and MEMS: In microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and other microelectronics, sapphire wafers with minimal thickness variation are used to ensure uniformity in etching and deposition processes.

5. Watch Crystals and Optical Windows: Sapphire's hardness and optical clarity make it ideal for high-end watch crystals and optical windows. A uniform thickness is critical for maintaining optical performance and mechanical strength.

6. Laser and Optical Systems: In laser optics and high-power systems, sapphire's transparency and thermal stability make it a key material. Low TTV ensures precise optical alignment and stability in these systems.

The 1-micron TTV ensures that the wafer has a very uniform thickness, which improves yield and performance in these high-precision applications.