Epitaxial wafer

<p>An epitaxial wafer (also called epi wafer, epi-wafer, or epiwafer) is a <a href="/facts/Wafer_(electronics)/lCBJAoUL">wafer</a> of <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconducting</a> material made by epitaxial growth (<a href="/facts/Epitaxy/etjSn1D3">epitaxy</a>) for use in <a href="/facts/Photonics/6UHcPXbq">photonics</a>, <a href="/facts/Microelectronics/HzCusb86">microelectronics</a>, <a href="/facts/Spintronics/dAWl8rcI">spintronics</a>, or <a href="/facts/Photovoltaics/5Xefaayl">photovoltaics</a>. The epi layer may be the same material as the substrate, typically <a href="/facts/Monocrystaline_silicon/5tLVyQpe">monocrystaline silicon</a>, or it may be a silicon dioxide (<a href="/facts/Silicon_on_insulator/fxSkXYmw">SoI</a>) or a more <a href="/facts/Exotic_material/Xoa7JLgb">exotic material</a> with specific desirable qualities. The purpose of epitaxy is to perfect the crystal structure over the bare substrate below and improve the wafer surface's electrical characteristics, making it suitable for highly complex microprocessors and memory devices.
</p>

Epitaxial wafer open-in-new

Epitaxial wafer