Composite Piezoelectric Substrate Bonding for 300°C High Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing composite substrates using silicon as a support substrate for piezoelectric materials like lithium tantalate and lithium niobate face challenges with dielectric loss and mechanical strength due to silicon's thermal expansion coefficient mismatch and oxygen content, leading to slip and cracking issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving bonding a silicon wafer with an interstitial oxygen concentration of 2 to 10 ppma to a piezoelectric material substrate, optionally with an intervening layer, and thinning the piezoelectric material after bonding, using surface activation treatments to enhance bonding strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal back electrode is used in OLED displays, then electrical conductivity is improved, but ion migration and display degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay reliabilityVSAvoidion migration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional metal back electrode with a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer, creating a composite structure that combines the electrical conductivity needed for operation with the ion-blocking properties of oxide materials. This composite approach eliminates ion migration while maintaining electrical functionality and improving display reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter from metal to transparent conductive oxide, fundamentally altering the chemical and physical properties of the electrode. This parameter change eliminates the harmful ion migration effect while preserving electrical conductivity and adding transparency for OLED display applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If transparent conductive oxide layers are used to replace metal electrodes, then ion migration is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveion migration preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional metal-based electrode system with a transparent conductive oxide system that can be deposited using vapor phase techniques. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by enabling direct formation of the electrode layer without complex assembly steps, while simultaneously preventing ion migration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If conventional sputtering methods are used for TCO deposition, then deposition speed is maintained, but step coverage and film quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition speedVSAvoidstep coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic deposition process using vapor phase techniques where the substrate can be rotated or moved during deposition. This dynamic approach ensures uniform step coverage and film quality while maintaining high deposition speeds, overcoming the limitations of static conventional sputtering methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces conventional sputtering with vapor phase deposition methods that inherently provide better step coverage. The vapor phase process allows material to conformally deposit on complex substrate geometries, achieving high manufacturing precision without sacrificing deposition productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method maintains high resistance up to 300°C, preventing slip and cracking while minimizing dielectric loss, thus ensuring stable device performance.

Implementation Method 1

a transparent conductive oxide layer in a display device can block ion migration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon blocking:

Implementation Method 2

Vapor phase deposition of transparent conductive oxide for large area substrates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVapor phase deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3573088B1Method of manufacturing a composite substrate
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3573088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3573088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3573088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A composite substrate capable of maintaining high resistance after processing at 300°C and a method of manufacturing the composite substrate are provided. The composite substrate according to the present invention is manufactured by bonding a silicon (Si) wafer having an interstitial oxygen concentration of 2 to 10 ppma to a piezoelectric material substrate as a support substrate, and thinning the piezoelectric material substrate after the bonding. The piezoelectric material substrate is particularly preferably a lithium tantalate wafer (LT) substrate or a lithium niobate (LN) substrate.