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Power semiconductor devices overview

Energy efficiency, mobility, and green technologies are driving continuous innovation in power device development. A broad range of “green” applications are pushing switching power amplifiers towards more extreme operating conditions, impacting everything from simple diodes to lateral and vertical MOSFETs, silicon and silicon carbide IGBTs, and gallium nitride JFETs. Higher voltages, frequencies, and temperatures require increased product quality and reliability. Yields are challenged by increasingly complex processes, novel materials and substrates, and application specific packaging designed to dissipate heat more efficiently.

As performance demands increase and power technologies advance, power device manufacturers and their customers need tools that quickly pinpoint fault locations at operating conditions. Subsequent characterization of materials, interfaces, and device structures require precise, high-throughput analysis.

Power semiconductor devices overview
Power semiconductor devices overview

Fault localization in power semiconductor devices

Detecting and localizing a leakage path before it becomes a dead short is critical to meeting reliability standards and preventing liability issues. Early detection might point to a crystal defect in the substrate or epilayers, a metal bridge or a particle, or even a weak spot in the gate oxide. Localizing a small leakage current under a micron-thick sheet of metallization is not a trivial challenge. Accurately localizing the defect to ensure its successful physical characterization is even more challenging. Methods and techniques that work for logic and memory devices won’t necessarily work for power devices.

Fault localization in power semiconductor devices
Fault localization in power semiconductor devices

Example power device analysis workflow

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers multiple failure analysis workflows optimized for the unique challenges of power devices. Follow the links below for more information on characterizing current-voltage behavior, detecting leakage currents, and analyzing materials and processes in modern power devices.

Thermal Fault IsolationDelayeringOptical Fault IsolationNanoprobingCross Sectioning(S)TEM Analysis

 

Applications

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Semiconductor research and development

Innovation starts with research and development. Learn more about solutions to help you understand innovative structures and materials at the atomic level.

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Semiconductor metrology

Manufacturing today’s complex semiconductors requires exact process controls. Learn more about advanced metrology and analysis solutions to accelerate yield learnings.

Semiconductor Failure Analysis

Semiconductor Failure Analysis

Complex semiconductor device structures result in more places for defects to hide. Learn more about failure analysis solutions to isolate, analyze, and repair defects.

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Semiconductor materials characterization

Many factors impact yield, performance, and reliability. Learn more about solutions to characterize physical, structural, and chemical properties.

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ESD Semiconductor Qualification

Every electrostatic discharge (ESD) control plan is required to identify devices that are sensitive to ESD. We offer a complete suite of test systems to help with your device qualification requirements.


Techniques

Thermal Fault Isolation

Uneven distribution of local power dissipation can cause large, localized increases in temperature, leading to device failure. We offer unique solutions for thermal fault isolation with high-sensitivity lock-in infrared thermography (LIT).

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Optical Fault Isolation

Increasingly complex designs complicate fault and defect isolation in semiconductor manufacturing. Optical fault isolation techniques allow you to analyze the performance of electrically active devices to locate critical defects that cause device failure.

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Semiconductor Analysis and Imaging

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers scanning electron microscopes for every function of a semiconductor lab, from general imaging tasks to advanced failure analysis techniques requiring precise voltage-contrast measurements.

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Sample Preparation of Semiconductor Devices

Thermo Scientific DualBeam systems provide accurate TEM sample preparation for atomic-scale analysis of semiconductor devices. Automation and advanced machine learning technologies produce high-quality samples, at the correct location, and a low cost per sample.

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Semiconductor TEM Imaging and Analysis

Thermo Scientific transmission electron microscopes offer high-resolution imaging and analysis of semiconductor devices, enabling manufacturers to calibrate toolsets, diagnose failure mechanisms, and optimize overall process yields.

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Device Delayering

Shrinking feature size, along with advanced design and architecture, results in increasingly challenging failure analysis for semiconductors. Damage-free delayering of devices is a critical technique for the detection of buried electrical faults and failures.

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Nanoprobing

As device complexity increases, so does the number of places defects have to hide. Nanoprobing provides the precise localization of electrical faults, which is critical for an effective transmission electron microscopy failure analysis workflow.

Learn more ›

Semiconductor Laser Ablation

Laser ablation provides high-throughput milling of semiconductor devices for imaging and analysis with electron microscopy, while still preserving sample integrity. Access large-volume 3D data and optimize milling conditions to best suit your sample type.

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ESD Compliance Testing

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage small features and structures in semiconductors and integrated circuits. We offer a comprehensive suite of test equipment which verifies that your devices meet targeted ESD compliance standards.

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Circuit Edit

Advanced, dedicated circuit edit and nanoprototyping solutions, which combine novel gas-delivery systems with a broad portfolio of chemistries and focused ion beam technology, offer unparalleled control and precision for semiconductor device development.

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SEM Metrology

Scanning electron microscopy provides accurate and reliable metrology data at nanometer scales. Automated ultra-high-resolution SEM metrology enables faster time-to-yield and time-to-market for memory, logic, and data storage applications.

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APT Sample Preparation

Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.

Learn more ›

Thermal Fault Isolation

Uneven distribution of local power dissipation can cause large, localized increases in temperature, leading to device failure. We offer unique solutions for thermal fault isolation with high-sensitivity lock-in infrared thermography (LIT).

Learn more ›

Optical Fault Isolation

Increasingly complex designs complicate fault and defect isolation in semiconductor manufacturing. Optical fault isolation techniques allow you to analyze the performance of electrically active devices to locate critical defects that cause device failure.

Learn more ›

Semiconductor Analysis and Imaging

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers scanning electron microscopes for every function of a semiconductor lab, from general imaging tasks to advanced failure analysis techniques requiring precise voltage-contrast measurements.

Learn more ›

Sample Preparation of Semiconductor Devices

Thermo Scientific DualBeam systems provide accurate TEM sample preparation for atomic-scale analysis of semiconductor devices. Automation and advanced machine learning technologies produce high-quality samples, at the correct location, and a low cost per sample.

Learn more ›

Semiconductor TEM Imaging and Analysis

Thermo Scientific transmission electron microscopes offer high-resolution imaging and analysis of semiconductor devices, enabling manufacturers to calibrate toolsets, diagnose failure mechanisms, and optimize overall process yields.

Learn more ›

Device Delayering

Shrinking feature size, along with advanced design and architecture, results in increasingly challenging failure analysis for semiconductors. Damage-free delayering of devices is a critical technique for the detection of buried electrical faults and failures.

Learn more ›

Nanoprobing

As device complexity increases, so does the number of places defects have to hide. Nanoprobing provides the precise localization of electrical faults, which is critical for an effective transmission electron microscopy failure analysis workflow.

Learn more ›

Semiconductor Laser Ablation

Laser ablation provides high-throughput milling of semiconductor devices for imaging and analysis with electron microscopy, while still preserving sample integrity. Access large-volume 3D data and optimize milling conditions to best suit your sample type.

Learn more ›

ESD Compliance Testing

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage small features and structures in semiconductors and integrated circuits. We offer a comprehensive suite of test equipment which verifies that your devices meet targeted ESD compliance standards.

Learn more ›

Circuit Edit

Advanced, dedicated circuit edit and nanoprototyping solutions, which combine novel gas-delivery systems with a broad portfolio of chemistries and focused ion beam technology, offer unparalleled control and precision for semiconductor device development.

Learn more ›

SEM Metrology

Scanning electron microscopy provides accurate and reliable metrology data at nanometer scales. Automated ultra-high-resolution SEM metrology enables faster time-to-yield and time-to-market for memory, logic, and data storage applications.

Learn more ›

APT Sample Preparation

Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.

Learn more ›

Products

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ELITE System

  • Electrical defect localization
  • Thermal mapping
  • Advanced packaging analysis

Meridian S System

  • Fault Diagnostic with Active Probe Technology
  • Static laser stimulation (SLS / OBIRCH) and photon emission options
  • Supports both micro-probing and probe card device stimulation

nProber IV

  • Localize transistor and BEOL faults
  • Thermal nanoprobing (-40°C to 150°C)
  • Semi-automated operation
Thermo Scientific Apreo 2 scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Apreo 2 SEM

  • High-performance SEM for all-round nanometer or sub-nanometer resolution
  • In-column T1 backscatter detector for sensitive, TV-rate materials contrast
  • Excellent performance at long working distance (10 mm)
Thermo Scientific Verios 5 XHR scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Verios 5 XHR SEM

  • Monochromated SEM for sub-nanometer resolution over the full 1 keV to 30 keV energy range
  • Easy access to beam landing energies as low as 20 eV
  • Excellent stability with piezo stage as standard

Helios 5 HX/Helios 5 UX/Helios 5 FX DualBeam

  • Fully automated, high-quality, ultra-thin TEM sample preparation
  • High throughput, high resolution subsurface and 3D characterization
  • Rapid nanoprototyping capabilities

Helios 5 PFIB DualBeam

  • Gallium-free STEM and TEM sample preparation
  • Multi-modal subsurface and 3D information
  • Next-generation 2.5 μA xenon plasma FIB column

Talos F200E TEM

  • High-quality (S)TEM imaging of semiconductor and microelectronic devices
  • Precise, high-speed chemical characterization with EDS
  • Dedicated semiconductor-related applications

Resources

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Electron microscopy services for
semiconductors

To ensure optimal system performance, we provide you access to a world-class network of field service experts, technical support, and certified spare parts.

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