Materials
components are driving preferential choices to
change the materials employed and or the
manufacturing process used to arrive at a
working integrated solution. Device physics
constraints and or the manufacturing method
employed, for example moving from PVD to
CVD to ALD deposition techniques, are
increasingly driving the adoption of material
changes. Of course all of the above
considerations have to be accomplished all the
while balancing an acceptable cost benefit
proposition.
Issue VIII 2009
square4
New markets, convergence and
the erosion of boundaries
.com
As the materials used in electronic devices
become ever more exotic, we are seeing a
growing interest in what used to be considered
fairly ‘niche’ technologies. In particular, the
growth in the LED market has sparked a wave of
interested in III-V materials, and we are seeing performance demanded of modern electronic
oasiasemiconductor
something of a closing of the gap between the devices. This, in turn, positions chemical
.eur
III-V and silicon semiconductor markets. Some companies and materials provides as key
www
device manufactures whose core focus has enablers for the ongoing evolution of the
traditionally been on the design and electronics market. Their expertise is in higher
25
manufacture of silicon semiconductors, such as demand than ever before as exotic materials
Samsung and Micron, for example, are now that, in many cases, have specialist handling,
ramping up operations in the adjacent III-V transportation and delivery requirements, are
semiconductor market segment, specifically in sought to push performance parameters ever
relation to LED manufacturing. further, to give a manufacturer that elusive edge
The mass production experience that this over the competition. This demand is creating
type of player has in silicon semiconductor new environments in which materials expertise is
manufacturing is likely to have a significant possible THE most important element in
impact on the manufacturing approaches semiconductor device development, especially
deployed for LEDs. This raises some interesting at the research stages. Chemistry enjoys a
points, as the approach to facilities and pivotal role in the electronics revolution and it is
manufacturing favoured by these traditional unlikely that this will diminish.
silicon semiconductor companies, and the With an increased focus being put on
massive output of devices they produce, are energy and the environment, significant market
markedly different to those currently adopted by opportunities continue to open up for
the III-V market. Some of these differences are electronics manufacturers to branch out into new
by virtue of the manufacturing techniques areas such as energy efficient lighting,
employed, while others are a function of the photovoltaics, energy management and so on.
maturity of the manufacturing of the devices Increased levels of collaboration throughout the
themselves in volumes that have not yet been supply chain are central to R&D efforts as
attempted in the III-V market. What will be companies look to share the development costs
interesting is how III-V manufacturing is adopted and drive toward innovative solutions.
and scale-up to high volume manufacturing is Additionally, the focus on CoO plays an
achieved, and what effect this will have on the increasingly important role throughout the
market for High Brightness LEDs (HBLEDs) as we electronics industry and will only intensify in the
move toward more mass market adoption as the future. In this new paradigm, opportunities
replacement for the current traditional lighting abound where increasingly focused multi-
solutions. discipline collaborations and chemistry are the
Without doubt, there is significant demand key enablers continuing to drive innovation for a
for new materials to deliver the improved better future.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44