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In today’s increasingly competitive semiconductor landscape, foundries face mounting pressure from multiple directions. They must not only compete against other pure-play foundries for contracts from fabless companies but also against the internal fabrication capabilities of Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs). The market is increasingly concentrated, with the top 5 players controlling over 90% of production. As … Read more

As the semiconductor industry advances toward smaller node sizes and increasingly complex 2D structures, precise pattern control has become more critical than ever. This trend has long driven the development of high-performance dry-etching technologies that enable accurate patterning at the nanoscale. However, despite their advantages, dry-etching methods also introduce several critical challenges that continue to … Read more

Europe’s semiconductor industry accounts for less than 10% of global chip manufacturing, but it has stronger weight in key niche areas—especially automotive, industrial, aerospace, and power electronics. With leaders like Infineon, NXP, STMicroelectronics and ASML, Europe’s strength lies in specialized chips, equipment and upstream technologies. While the EU Chips Act aims to boost self-sufficiency, current … Read more

The surface quality and roughness that were still acceptable with 60nm+ linewidths become catastrophic at node sizes of 10 nm and below. With smaller nodes, transistors are mainly constructed from a surface, increasing the importance of atomic-level cleanliness and smoothness. In semiconductor fabrication, engineers have focused on minimizing defects for decades. However, as node sizes … Read more

The semiconductor industry stands at a crossroads. As demand grows for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient chips, manufacturers face increasing pressure to eliminate atomic-level defects, reduce power consumption, and boost yields. Yet, for many IDMs, foundries, and fabless companies, achieving these goals requires more than incremental improvements—it demands a fundamental shift in mindset, processes, and … Read more

In the high-stakes world of semiconductors, performance, efficiency, and reliability aren’t just goals—they’re survival strategies. For specialized integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), especially those operating in niche markets, differentiation is everything. One of the most powerful levers they can pull is tighter control over atomic-level defects and contamination in semiconductor interfaces. Though invisible to the naked … Read more

In the highly competitive automotive IC market, vendors must differentiate themselves through superior reliability, energy efficiency, and performance. However, atomic-level defects and contamination pose a serious challenge, directly affecting chip quality, yield, and long-term functionality. Vendors that fail to address these microscopic issues struggle to meet automakers’ stringent standards, while those who optimize for atomic-level … Read more

In the competitive world of analogue integrated circuits (ICs), achieving high reliability, energy efficiency, and manufacturing yield is crucial. Unlike digital ICs, where performance is often defined by transistor scaling, analogue ICs rely on precise electrical characteristics—making them highly sensitive to atomic-level impurities at semiconductor interfaces. With strong competition in analogue ICs among broad-line suppliers, … Read more

Next-Gen Atomic-level Cleaning for state-of-the-art semiconductors and sub 20nm technology Improving silicon surface cleaning is essential for enabling reliable device performance as semiconductor nodes continue to shrink. Even microscopic residues and surface imperfections can lead to interface defects, yield loss, and long-term reliability challenges. In this article, we explore next-generation atomic-level cleaning approaches that help semiconductor … Read more

In the world of semiconductors, ensuring that current flows precisely through the active area is essential. But what happens when it leaks through the edges? This common issue, known as leakage current, can significantly impact device performance and reliability. Sources of Leakage Current Leakage current in semiconductors generally arises from multiple sources: For example, H. … Read more