6 Apr
2022
6 Apr
'22
11:26 p.m.
Paul and others said
> What if you can't make ICs any more? Or
rather, what level of IC
> fabrication would it be possible to construct from scratch?
For semiconductors, you'd start with machinery to
make ultra-pure materials (silicon, I'd assume). A Czochralski crystal growing
machine to make
the cylinders of pure mono-crystal silicon from which wafers are sliced. Polishing
machinery. Wafer coating machines. Wafer steppers. Etching,
metal coating, diffusion, etc......... most of which also require very pure and often
exotic ingredients. (I remember being amazed to read that
chlorine trifluoride is used as a cleaner in the semiconductor industry. Look up the
properties of that compound, it will blow your mind.)
Which brings to mind the amazing work of Sam Zeloof:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zeloof+z1+chip