Semiconductor lithography process
• Excimer laser gas: Excimer laser gas: Neon gas is the core mixed gas component of deep ultraviolet (DUV), KRF(Krypton fluoride), and ArF(argon fluoride) excimer lasers, which directly affects the stability of the laser wavelength and the accuracy of the chip process.
• Domestic alternative demand: As the United States intensifies its restrictions on the export of semiconductor equipment to China, domestic semiconductor manufacturers (such as SMIC and Yangtze Memory Technologies) have accelerated the localization of their supply chains. High-purity neon has become one of the key “neck” materials. Enterprises such as Newred have gradually replaced imports by enhancing purity (above 6N grade) and obtaining technical certifications.
2. Manufacture display panels
• Plasma etching and cleaning: OLED, LCD panels are fabricated using neon plasma etching technology, ensuring high-precision processing of display circuits.
• Mixed gas ratio: Mixed with gases such as helium and xenon, it is used to protect the inert environment in panel manufacturing and prevent material oxidation.
3. Communication between lasers and optical fibers
• High-power lasers: Neon is a buffer gas used for cooling and energy transfer in carbon dioxide lasers and fiber lasers.
• 5g optical modules: During the manufacturing of optical fiber preforms, neon lights are used for inert protection during the high-temperature deposition process.
4. Scientific Research and medical care
• Low-temperature engineering: Liquid neon (boiling point -246℃) for cooling superconducting magnets (such as MRI equipment).
In plasma confinement tests, nuclear fusion tests serve as a working gas.
Technological and market advantages
1.High-purity preparation technology To meet the strict requirements of semiconductor lithography and high-end display panels, the neon purification capacity exceeds 6N(99.9999%).
The gas purification device and self-developed detection technologies (such as GC-MS analysis) ensure that impurities (O₂, H₂O, etc.) are controlled at the ppb level.
2. Supply chain security guarantee
• Domestic substitution: Ukraine was once the supplier of 70% of the world’s neon lights. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to a sharp increase in prices (up 600% in 2022). Newred has reduced its reliance on imports through the extraction technology of air separation waste gas (neon, krypton and xenon are recovered from the air separation unit of the steel plant).Establish a stable supply system for neon raw materials and cooperate with domestic steel enterprises (such as Baowu Group).
3. Customer cooperation cases
It has entered the supply chains of leading enterprises such as SMIC, BOE, and China Star Optoelectronics, and has passed the SEMI(Semiconductor Industry Association) standard certification.
Participated in the national “02 Special Project” (Large-scale Integrated Circuit Manufacturing Technology and Complete Process Project) to promote the localization of photolithography gases.
Industry challenges and future trends
1. Technical barriers
Semiconductor-grade neon lights require a purity of over 8N (international leading enterprises such as Linde and Praxair have already achieved this), and domestic enterprises still need to enhance the stability of the purification process.
2. The influence of geopolitics
In China’s export control list, the United States may list electronic features, forcing domestic efforts to accelerate independent control over the entire industrial chain.
3. Expand new applications
In qubit cooling, quantum computing: Potential applications in neon lights.
• Nuclear medicine: Radioactive isotopes used for preparing particle accelerators.
Newradar’s neon products play a significant role in the domestic substitution of semiconductor lithography and display panels. Its technological breakthroughs and supply chain layout are crucial for ensuring the security of China’s high-end manufacturing industry. In the future, we need to continue to pay attention to the improvement of its purity, international cooperation (such as certification with ASML suppliers), and the development and progress of emerging markets.
Post time: May-26-2025