Exploring Technology in a Wizard World-Chapter 576 - 574: Magic Chip Manufacturing Process

Meanwhile,

Richard, holding sand, entered Eden.

He walked into the main laboratory and poured the sand into a funnel-shaped container, starting the process of washing, sieving, and filtering. After several steps, he obtained qualified pure sand.

He transferred the purified sand to another cylindrical container, mixed in a large amount of coke, and placed it into a special melting furnace for heating.

During the heating process, the sand made noises, which Richard knew was due to the reaction of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) in the sand with the Carbon (C) in the coke, eventually producing metallurgically grade coarse silicon (Si) with a roughness of about 98%.

After heating, Richard obtained enough coarse silicon and, without hesitation, quickly began the second step of processing. Specifically, he used salt acid for chlorination and then distillation, step by step creating high-purity polycrystalline silicon. According to standards, the high-purity polycrystalline silicon produced had a purity of 99.999999999%—a total of eleven 9s—which was a stringent requirement; if not met, the products produced thereafter could potentially have defects.

Having completed this step and after passing inspections, Richard did not stop there but began placing the polycrystalline silicon into a specially designed container where it was melted into high-temperature liquid under high heat.

Upon successful melting, he introduced a small grain of silicon seed crystal into the liquid. Using this grain as an attachment point, the liquid began to form gradually at the bottom. As the silicon seed crystal, tied with a thread, was slowly pulled up, a rod-shaped crystal formed beneath it. This was a single crystal silicon crystal rod, also known as "long crystal," which appeared as a standard cylindrical shape with a radius consistent with the original silicon seed crystal placed in.

By this point, the substrate for the chip was completed in the manufacturing phase, and next came the processing phase.

Richard collected the produced single crystal silicon crystal rod, quickly stepped out of the main lab, and headed to the Mechanical Processing Sector, then entered the research room.

Inside the research room, Richard placed the single crystal silicon crystal rod on the processing table, keeping it vertical, and adjusted the mechanical arm to move downward, beginning the precise cutting.

"Swish!"

The mechanical arm swung down, and the single crystal silicon crystal rod was immediately shaved off a layer, the shaved part was exactly a thin circular disc, over ten centimeters in diameter.

He finely ground and polished the disc, resulting in the surface of the disc being extremely shiny, resembling a mirror, which became a qualified round crystal—silicon wafer, considered the most basic material in the semiconductor industry.

After cutting the round crystal according to certain specifications, it reached the rawest state of the chip, also known as the substrate.

At this point, the substrate production was completed.

...

After the substrate production was completed, the issues to resolve were the photoresist and developer.

Photoresist is a liquid that is applied to the substrate, and upon exposure to special light, it undergoes a particular change. Then, when immersed in developer, it undergoes a special reaction, eventually revealing the pattern on the mask.

Generally speaking, there are two main types of photoresists—positive photoresist and negative photoresist.

Positive photoresist is where the exposed parts undergo a photochemical reaction that dissolves in the developer while the unexposed parts do not dissolve in the developer and remain on the substrate, ultimately forming a pattern on the substrate identical to the one on the mask.

Negative photoresist is where the exposed parts, due to cross-linking curing action, do not dissolve in the developer, but the unexposed parts do dissolve, ultimately forming a pattern on the substrate that is the reverse of that on the mask.

After some consideration, Richard decided to use positive photoresist, making it easier to create the mask later on.

This way, Richard began the configuration work of chemical reagents.

Afterward, for several days, he was busy coming in and out of the three-story wooden building, while Mars, who was overseeing, continuously reported the observations to Wizard Wan An.

...

Several days later.

In a two-story wooden building.

Wan An frowned deeply with confusion after hearing yet another report from Mars, "Previously, his search for the blood of demonized creatures and the sap of plants was somewhat understandable, but what does he want today with that so-called ’Montauk Stone’ mineral?"

Mars, having been outside for quite a long time, was so hungry his stomach growled. He stood in a corner, stuffing his mouth with dried fish and pumpkin cakes, shaking his head as he replied, "I don’t know either, teacher, munch munch, I’ve always found that guy weird from the beginning, completely clueless about what he is up to, munch munch..."

Wan An’s mood soured even further upon hearing Mars munching, growing exasperated, he abruptly turned his head towards Mars and commanded, "Don’t stay here anymore, go out and keep a closer watch on him, make sure you don’t miss any of his movements."

"But..." Mars hesitated, "Teacher, can I finish my food before I go? I haven’t had a proper meal in days."

"Hm?!" Wan An’s eyebrows shot up, his expression becoming slightly menacing.

"I!" Mars swallowed his food with a gulp, no longer daring to waste words. He kicked the dried fish and pumpkin cakes into his chest and, somewhat clumsily, scurried out the door.

After running out the door, Mars took a pumpkin cake to his mouth and bit down hard, looking rather savage, but after swallowing the pumpkin cake with a "gulp," he returned to normal. Glancing back at the wooden building, he sighed and walked towards a corner of the gathering area.

...

Inside Eden.

The main laboratory.

Photoresist and developer, two liquids, were mixed in a container. Richard watched the reaction intently, nodding with satisfaction, "It seems both liquids are performing their functions. Now, aside from the light source, only the mask remains to be addressed. However, the mask is a major task."

Yes, a major task.

The function of the mask is to block the light from the light source, allowing specific light to shine onto the film coated with photoresist, creating a specific shape.

The shape on the mask is the shape on the chip.

Thus, all the magic runes from the design of the "Destructive Gloves" had to be engraved on the mask.

"Crack-crack-crack!"

Richard stretched his body, producing a series of cracking sounds, then walked out the door towards the Mechanical Processing Sector.

In the Mechanical Processing Sector Research Room, Richard found a prepared thin metal sheet and placed it on the cutting table, slicing it into 10cm squares. He then adjusted the mechanical arm, put on a microscope eyepiece, focused and began engraving lines on the metal sheet.

He engraved for half a day, occasionally stopping to think before continuing.

"Shhh shhh shhh..."

Inside the research room of the Mechanical Processing Sector, only the sound of metal being cut echoed, utterly quiet...

In this silence, Richard meticulously kept working, working...

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes...

One hour, two hours, three hours...

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