Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, including forming a first semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor layer being of the same dopant type as the semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor layer having a higher dopant concentration than the semiconductor substrate, increasing the porosity of the first semiconductor layer, first annealing the first semiconductor layer at a temperature of at least 1050° C., forming a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer and separating the second semiconductor layer from the semiconductor substrate by splitting within the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor ingot is sliced to obtain a semiconductor slice with a front side surface and a rear side surface parallel to the front side surface. A passivation layer is formed directly on at least one of the front side surface and the rear side surface. A barrier layer including least one of silicon carbide, a ternary nitride, and a ternary carbide is formed on the rear side surface.

Abstract: An auxiliary carrier and a silicon carbide substrate are provided. The silicon carbide substrate includes an idle layer and a device layer between a main surface at a front side of the silicon carbide substrate and the idle layer. The device layer includes a plurality of laterally separated device regions. Each device region extends from the main surface to the idle layer. The auxiliary carrier is structurally connected with the silicon carbide substrate at the front side. The idle layer is removed. A mold structure is formed that fills a grid-shaped groove that laterally separates the device regions. The device regions are separated, and parts of the mold structure form frame structures laterally surrounding the device regions.

Abstract: A laser assembly (1710) for generating an assembly output beam (1712) includes a laser subassembly (1716) including a first laser module (1716A) and a second laser module (1716B), a transform assembly (1744), and a beam combiner (1746). The first laser module (1716A) emits a plurality of spaced apart first laser beams (1720A). The second laser module (1716B) emits a plurality of spaced apart second laser beams (1720B). The transform assembly (1744) is positioned in a path of the laser beams (1720A) (1720B). The transform assembly (1744) directs the laser beams (1720A) (1720B) to spatially overlap at a focal plane of the transform assembly (1744). The beam combiner (1746) is positioned at the focal plane that combines the lasers beams (1720A) (1720B) to provide a combination beam. The laser beams (1720A) (1720B) directed by the transform assembly (1744) impinge on the beam combiner (1746) at different angles.

Abstract: A method for processing a wide band gap semiconductor wafer includes: depositing a support layer including semiconductor material at a back side of a wide band gap semiconductor wafer, the wide band gap semiconductor wafer having a band gap larger than the band gap of silicon; depositing an epitaxial layer at a front side of the wide band gap semiconductor wafer; and splitting the wide band gap semiconductor wafer along a splitting region to obtain a device wafer comprising at least a part of the epitaxial layer, and a remaining wafer comprising the support layer.

Abstract: A CVD reactor, including a deposition chamber housing a first susceptor and a second susceptor, the first susceptor having a cavity for receiving a first substrate, the first substrate having a front surface and a back surface, the second susceptor having a cavity for receiving a second substrate, the second substrate having a front surface and a back surface, and the first susceptor and the second susceptor are disposed so that the front surface of the first substrate is opposite to the front surface of the second substrate thereby forming a portion of a gas flow channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor element is formed in a mesa portion of a semiconductor substrate. A cavity is formed in a working surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is brought in contact with a glass piece made of a glass material and having a protrusion. The glass piece and the semiconductor substrate are arranged such that the protrusion extends into the cavity. The glass piece is bonded to the semiconductor substrate. The glass piece is in-situ bonded to the semiconductor substrate by pressing the glass piece against the semiconductor substrate. During the pressing a temperature of the glass piece exceeds a glass transition temperature and the temperature and a force exerted on the glass piece are controlled to fluidify the glass material and after re-solidifying the protrusion completely fills the cavity.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of a method described herein, a silicon carbide substrate is provided that includes a plurality of device regions. A front side metallization may be provided at a front side of the silicon carbide substrate. The method may further comprise providing an auxiliary structure at a backside of the silicon carbide substrate. The auxiliary structure includes a plurality of laterally separated metal portions. Each metal portion is in contact with one device region of the plurality of device regions.

Abstract: A method for processing a wide band gap semiconductor wafer is proposed. The method includes depositing a non-monocrystalline support layer at a back side of a wide band gap semiconductor wafer, depositing an epitaxial layer at a front side of the wide band gap semiconductor wafer, and splitting the wide band gap semiconductor wafer along a splitting region to obtain a device wafer including at least a part of the epitaxial layer, and a remaining wafer including the non-monocrystalline support layer.

Abstract: A method includes providing a layer of porous silicon carbide supported by a silicon carbide substrate, providing a layer of epitaxial silicon carbide on the layer of porous silicon carbide, forming a plurality of semiconductor devices in the layer of epitaxial silicon carbide, and separating the substrate from the layer of epitaxial silicon carbide at the layer of porous silicon carbide. Additional methods are described.

Abstract: An edge delimits a semiconductor body in a direction parallel to a first side of the semiconductor body. A peripheral area is arranged between the active area and edge. A first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type extends from the active area into the peripheral area. A second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type forms a pn-junction with the first semiconductor region. A first edge termination region of the second conductivity type arranged at the first side adjoins the first semiconductor region, between the second semiconductor region and edge. A second edge termination region of the first conductivity type arranged at the first side and between the first edge termination region and edge has a varying concentration of dopants of the first conductivity type which increases at least next to the first edge termination region substantially linearly with an increasing distance from the first edge termination region.

Abstract: A method of splitting a semiconductor wafer includes: forming one or more epitaxial layers on the semiconductor wafer; forming a plurality of device structures in the one or more epitaxial layers; forming a metallization layer and/or a passivation layer over the plurality of device structures; attaching a carrier to the semiconductor wafer with the one or more epitaxial layers, the carrier protecting the plurality of device structures and mechanically stabilizing the semiconductor wafer; forming a separation region within the semiconductor wafer, the separation region having at least one altered physical property which increases thermo-mechanical stress within the separation region relative to the remainder of the semiconductor wafer; and applying an external force to the semiconductor wafer such that at least one crack propagates along the separation region and the semiconductor wafer splits into two separate pieces, one of the pieces retaining the plurality of device structures.

Abstract: A method for processing a substrate assembly with a semiconductor device layer includes: arranging an auxiliary carrier at the substrate assembly such that a connection surface of the auxiliary carrier and a first surface of the substrate assembly directly adjoin each other; fixedly attaching the auxiliary carrier to the substrate assembly by melting a carrier portion of the auxiliary carrier and a substrate portion of the substrate assembly that directly adjoins the carrier portion such that the auxiliary carrier and the substrate assembly locally fuse only in fused portions of the auxiliary carrier and the substrate assembly, wherein the fused portions are laterally separated from each other by at least one unfused portion; and processing the semiconductor device layer of the substrate assembly with the auxiliary carrier fixedly attached to the substrate assembly.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of processing a monocrystalline substrate is provided. The method may include severing the substrate along a main processing side into at least two monocrystalline substrate segments, and forming a micromechanical structure comprising at least one monocrystalline substrate segment of the at least two substrate segments.

Abstract: A method of splitting a semiconductor wafer includes: forming one or more epitaxial layers on the semiconductor wafer; forming a plurality of device structures in the one or more epitaxial layers; forming a metallization layer and/or a passivation layer over the plurality of device structures; attaching a carrier to the semiconductor wafer with the one or more epitaxial layers, the carrier protecting the plurality of device structures and mechanically stabilizing the semiconductor wafer; forming a separation region within the semiconductor wafer, the separation region having at least one altered physical property which increases thermo-mechanical stress within the separation region relative to the remainder of the semiconductor wafer; and applying an external force to the semiconductor wafer such that at least one crack propagates along the separation region and the semiconductor wafer splits into two separate pieces, one of the pieces retaining the plurality of device structures.

Abstract: A method includes providing a first layer of epitaxial silicon carbide supported by a silicon carbide substrate, providing a second layer of epitaxial silicon carbide on the first layer, forming a plurality of semiconductor devices in the second layer, and separating the substrate from the second layer at the first layer. The first layer includes a plurality of voids.

Abstract: A vertical power semiconductor device is described. The vertical power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. A thickness of the semiconductor body between the first main surface and the second main surface ranges from 40 ?m to 200 ?m. Active device elements are formed in the semiconductor body at the first main surface. Edge termination elements at least partly surround the active device elements at the first main surface. A diffusion region extends into the semiconductor body from the second main surface. A doping concentration profile of the diffusion region decreases from a peak concentration Ns at the second main surface to a concentration Ns/e, e being Euler's number, over a vertical distance ranging from 1 ?m to 5 ?m.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical contact and a method of forming a chip package are provided. The methods may include arranging a metal contact structure including a non-noble metal and electrically contacting the chip, arranging a packaging material, and a protective layer including or essentially consisting of a portion formed at an interface between a portion of the metal contact structure and the packaging material, wherein the protective layer may include a noble metal, wherein the portion of the protective layer may include a plurality of regions free from the noble metal, and wherein the regions free from the noble metal may provide an interface between the packaging material and the non-noble metal of the metal contact structure.

Abstract: A method of yielding a thinner product wafer from a thicker base SiC wafer cut from a SiC ingot includes: supporting the base SiC wafer with a support substrate: and while the base SiC wafer is supported by the support substrate, cutting through the base SiC wafer in a direction parallel to a first main surface of the base SiC wafer using a wire as part of a wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process, to separate the product wafer from the base SiC wafer, the product wafer being attached to the support substrate when cut from the base SiC wafer.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of forming an electrical contact is provided. The method may include depositing, by atomic layer deposition, a passivation layer over at least a region of a metal surface, wherein the passivation layer may include aluminum oxide, and electrically contacting the region of the metal surface with a metal contact structure, wherein the metal contact structure may include copper.