Abstract: A method for separating chips from a diamond wafer comprising a substrate, a chemically vapor-deposited diamond layer, and microelectronic elements, with the microelectronic elements protected from thermal damage and degradation caused by the thermally decomposed cuttings produced during the processing steps. (1) Front-side grooves 6 are formed on the chemically vapor-deposited diamond layer 2 by laser processing using a laser such as a YAG, CO2, or excimer laser each having a large output so that the grooves 6 can have a depth 1/100 to 1.5 times the thickness of the diamond layer. (2) The thermally decomposed cuttings produced during the laser processing are removed by using a plasma. (3) Back-side grooves 9 are formed on the substrate 1 by dicing such that the back-side grooves 9 are in alignment with the front-side grooves 6. (4) The diamond wafer 4 is divided into individual chips 10 by applying mechanical stresses.

Abstract: A method for separating chips from a diamond wafer comprising a substrate, a chemically vapor-deposited diamond layer, and microelectronic elements, with the microelectronic elements protected from thermal damage and degradation caused by the thermally decomposed cuttings produced during the processing steps. (1) Front-side grooves 6 are formed on the chemically vapor-deposited diamond layer 2 by laser processing using a laser such as a YAG, CO2, or excimer laser each having a large output so that the grooves 6 can have a depth 1/100 to 1.5 times the thickness of the diamond layer. (2) The thermally decomposed cuttings produced during the laser processing are removed by using a plasma. (3) Back-side grooves 9 are formed on the substrate 1 by dicing such that the back-side grooves 9 are in alignment with the front-side grooves 6. (4) The diamond wafer 4 is divided into individual chips 10 by applying mechanical stresses.