Die-attachment solutions for SiC power devices

Abstract

Silicon carbide has become a very attractive material for high temperature and high power electronics applications due to its physical properties, which are different than those of conventional Si semiconductors. However, the reliability of SiC devices is limited by assembly processes comprising die attachment and interconnections technology as well as the stability of ohmic contacts at high temperatures. The investigations of die to substrate connection methods which can fulfill high temperature and high power requirements are the main focuses of the paper. This work focuses on die attach technologies: solder bonding by means of gold–germanium alloys, adhesive bonding with the use of organic and inorganic conductive compositions, as well as die bonding with the use of low temperature sintering with silver nanoparticles. The applied bonding technologies are described and obtained results are presented. Of the methods tested, the best solutions for high temperature application are two die attach technologies: silver glass die attach and die bonding with the use of low temperature sintered Ag nanopowders.