Silicon Technologies: Ion Implantation and Thermal Treatment

Preface

Electronic components based on semiconductors are at the core of all electrical and electronic equipment. They are stakeholders of an increasing share of the objects surrounding and accompanying us. They give to these objects various functions: capture, storage, transmission or information restoration (cameras, phones, TV, etc.), control-command, aid to decision-making, safety, etc.

Nowadays, the components aggregate more than 20% of the value of electrical or electronic equipment, against 7% in 1985. Therefore, there is a global market of the “semiconductor” sector of 270 billion dollars.

These components are indeed at the heart of all applications, for the “digital society”, of which they ensure both the engine and the memory, or for the improvements expected in the fields of transport, aeronautics, health, safety, and electrical energy management close to the user or within distribution systems.

Broadband available to all, the intelligent and efficient management of energy in buildings, telehealth, the intelligent road and zero emission cars or even the replacement of the electrical infrastructure, go inevitably through an increasing use of electronic components with more complex and powerful semiconductors.

The number of delivered components amounts to billions of parts per week (3.25 billion of units/week, at the end of December 2009).

This increasing and continuous penetration of electronic components in equipment was made possible by two other key features of the ...