Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3: Epitaxy
Epitaxy (epi means "upon" and taxis means "ordered") is a term applied to processes used to grow a thin crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate. The seed crystal in epitaxial processes is the substrate. Unlike the Czochralski process, crystalline thin films can be grown below the melting point using techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), etc. When a material is grown epitaxially on a substrate of the same material, the ...
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Why this note is highly rated:
- Clearly defines core concepts of epitaxy, homoepitaxy, and heteroepitaxy.
- Effectively outlines the fundamental advantages of epitaxial wafers.
- Excellent use of diagrams (Figures 3.1, 3.2-1, 3.2-2) to illustrate device structures and operational mechanisms (DRAM, non-volatile memory programming/erasure).
- Provides relevant real-world applications of epitaxy in semiconductor devices (CMOS, DRAM, non-volatile memory, latch-up prevention).