Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Carl Zeiss SMT has said that it has set a new record resolution benchmark for scanning electron and ion microscopy, using its ‘ORION’ Helium- ion microscope. A surface resolution of 2.4 Angström (0.24 Nanometer) with (25%-75% edge-rise criterion) on various samples being achieved, the company said. Read more >>

According to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) worldwide silicon wafer area shipments contracted almost three percent during the third quarter of 2008, compared to the second quarter. However, 2Q08 shipments were the highest recorded and came after a small decline in 1Q08, compared to 4Q07. Read more >>

After two-years in the making, ARM has released the first of its kind SOI library of physical IP for IC designers that will see IBM offer 45nm foundry services for a wide range of potential customers looking for low power benefits of the wafer technology. Read more >>

The Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden (COMEDD) was recently opened by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The center will focus on the development of processes for organic semiconductor devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells. Read more >>

Nitrogen trifluoride used in semiconductor, thin-film solar and other electronics manufacturing has been found to be in greater quantities in the atmosphere than previously estimated and is increasing at about 11 percent per annum, according to new research using new analytical techniques, NASA said. Read more >>

Cabot Microelectronics has opened its global pads manufacturing facility in Aurora, Illinois to meet the $500 million and growing CMP pad business. Cabot is well known for its CMP slurries, but only entered the polishing pads business in the last few years. The company said that it had CMP pad revenues of less than $1 million in 2007, but expects $15 million in revenue for fiscal 2008, which ended September 30th. Read more >>

Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP, a subsidiary of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc., revealed today its plans to increase the prices for industrial gas customers. Prices for bulk oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium will increase by 15 percent, carbon dioxide and dry ice prices are due to rise by 10 percent while argon will have a price increase of 20 percent. The new prices will come into effect on October 15. Read more >>

Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) is to expand its presence in the growing fluorine market, specifically in the semiconductor and LCD manufacturing sectors with the purchase of F2 Chemicals Limited. The company is based in the UK and is a joint venture between Asahi Glass and Mitsubishi. Terms of the deal were not disclosed; however, F2 Chemicals had a capitalization value of £11 million pounds sterling and 33 employees. Read more >>

Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC), recently gathered technology journalists from across Europe in Lyon, France, to report on its commercial progress. Among the pharmaceutical and bioscience reporters, there was a solitary semiconductor press representative, Dr Mike Cooke. Read more >>

The SOI Industry Consortium has made available the first chapters of its "SOI Implementation Guide," which features a series of white papers and presentations from industry experts on specific topics to promote a common understanding of the value and challenges of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technologies. Read more >>