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Semiconductors
Enhancing production yields and ramping-up the next generation
billion chips produced by the industry each year
co-leader in gas supply for semiconductors manufacturers
Air Liquide specialists dedicated to this industry
Growing markets for semiconductors
Semiconductor chips (also called integrated-circuits) are basically computing processors, memories, sensors, micro-controllers, power devices and other devices.
Although they are used primarily in computers, we serve more and more the semiconductors manufacturers worldwide by improving the connectivity and performance of smartphones and tablets. In fact the use of chips is spreading to new areas. Just one example is the automotive industry, where integrated-circuits, are replacing mechanical or fluidic systems for acceleration and braking control and enabling smart anti-collision systems. Connected smart objects or so called “Internet of Things”, are also incorporating semiconductors.
Air Liquide accompanies semiconductor manufacturers, delivering the ultra-high purity carrier gases needed to keep their manufacturing processes clean and stable over time. We also supply the specialty and advanced electronics materials (also called precursor molecules) to produce the semiconductor chips, and provide the equipment and services for the safe and optimum handling and distribution of our products.
Innovation in electronics advanced materials
Since their discovery in the late 1950s, the development of semiconductor chips, also called integrated-circuits, has more or less adhered to Moore’s Law. This rule, established by Intel founder Gordon Moore, stated that computing power should double every two years at constant costs.
According to Moore's Law, computing power should double every two years at constant costs
Meeting these challenges requires miniaturization of the billions of transistors or “digital semiconductor switches” behind each integrated circuit. Miniaturization allows more chips on same substrate surface. A second benefit of miniaturization enables the chips to run faster thanks to shorter internal structure and electrical connections. As a result, billions of transistors can be found on several dozen layers and on a 1 cm² surface.
Materials used to build transistors present pre-determined set of specific electrical properties. At each step of miniaturization, it is essential to improve the conduction of the chip’s constituent, sometimes requiring new materials and molecules precursors. Air Liquide offers the best adapted products to optimize the manufacturing process and electrical chip’s performance. Thus, we are involved in developing new generations of more efficient chips.
A large portfolio of electronics advanced materials
Our ALOHA™ and Voltaix™ product lines are designed for the most sensitive stage of the microchip manufacturing process, i.e. nano-scale transistors.
For each new generation of semiconductors, Air Liquide invents and produces electronics advanced materials with specific chemical, thermal, physical and high-purity properties for semiconductor customers. These innovative molecules are supplied in liquid form in ultra-high purity canisters and dispensed to the manufacturing equipment. The molecules are then vaporized and deposited precisely at the nano-scale level, forming successive and uniform layers of chip constituent materials.
We are also partnering with leading customers and technology centers of excellence to conceive new molecules that respond to emerging semiconductor industry technology challenges.
Air Liquide’s comprehensive offer to the semiconductor industry
Air Liquide understands that semiconductor production is a complex process requiring specialized equipment, high-purity gases, liquid chemicals and services. This is why we provide core capabilities that cover all major stages of semiconductor production, including:
- Electronics advanced materials for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD)
- Electronics specialty materials such as silane or halogen gases that can be supplied in large containers
- Ultra high purity carrier gases (generated on-site or delivered in bulk) including nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium and argon
- Worldwide analytical services to improve our customers’ process and production yields
- Gas and chemicals management services, enabling our customers to focus on their products
- Design, manufacture and installation of all necessary fluid and gas distribution, purification and on-line purity control equipment