# Raman for Semiconductors

> Raman microspectrometers are used to identify contaminants on precision devices.

Source: https://www.microspectra.com/solutions/raman-for-semiconductor/

## Raman Spectroscopy of Semiconductors

Raman microspectroscopy is used to identify contaminants, measure silicon crystal structure and stress in silicon structures.

### Contamination

[Contamination analysis](https://www.microspectra.com/product-service/217-contamination/) is a difficult problem for any failure analysis laboratory. It is especially challenging if the contamination has occured in a supposedly clean environment. Raman spectroscopy, especially Raman microspectroscopy, is essential in identifying the contaminants once they have been located. Raman spectroscopy is ideal due to its small sampling and the fact that it is a vibrational technique with the ability to identify many organic components.

### Silicon Crystal Form

Raman spectroscopy can measure the difference between different crystal stuctures of Silicon. For example, there are variations in the Raman spectra when comparing polycrystalline to amorphous silicon.

### Strain in Silicon Structures

Raman spectroscopy detects strain in silicon structures by measuring the lattice vibrations sensitive to strain. This makes it the perfect tool for such applications as monitoring wafers.

The sample

![Contaminat analysis by UV microspectroscopy](https://www.microspectra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Spectral-imaging-of-contaminated-HD-read-write-head-web.jpg)

*Spectral image of a contaminated hard-disk read/write head.*

What it returns

![785 nm Raman spectrum of silicon](https://www.microspectra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Raman-785-Silicon-350x218-1.jpg)

*Raman spectrum of a silicon device*

## The instrument for this work

[CRAIC Apollo™ Raman Spectrometer](https://www.microspectra.com/products/apollo-m-confocal-raman-microspectrometer/)

Identifies a contaminant once it has been located, tells polycrystalline silicon from amorphous, and reads strain in a wafer’s lattice.

[Request information](https://www.microspectra.com/contact-us/contact-us/?product=Raman%20semiconductor%20solutions#rfi-form)

## Background reading

- [The Science of Raman Microspectroscopy](https://www.microspectra.com/support/the-science/raman-science/)
- [Units used in spectroscopy](https://www.microspectra.com/support/the-science/units-for-microspectroscopy/)
- [Raman Microspectrometer Design](https://www.microspectra.com/support/the-science/microraman-spectrometer-design/)
- [Raman Spectrometer Design](https://www.microspectra.com/technical-support/283-raman-spectrometer-design/)
- [Microscope Objective Types](https://www.microspectra.com/support/learn/what-are-microscope-objective-classes/)
- [How a Raman microspectrometer is Used](https://www.microspectra.com/support/the-science/micro-raman-spectroscopy-applications/)