Powering Precision: The Rising Demand for Ultra High Purity Gases in Semiconductor Manufacturing
Ultra-high purity (UHP) gases are essential across various industries, but they play an especially important role in advanced semiconductor processes.
Semiconductors serve as the backbone for numerous industries, powering medical devices, microelectronics, automotive technologies, and more. Gases are used for inerting, plasma etching, deposition, annealing, and other processes within the semiconductor manufacturing workflow. But without ensuring the highest levels of purity in these gases, small abnormalities can lead to defects during production, compromising product quality, yield, and overall device reliability.
As technology evolves and semiconductors become more advanced, the demand for UHP gases has surged, requiring greater volumes to meet industry needs. In this blog post, we will quantify this demand, explore its origins and significance, and detail how the right partner can support you through every stage of your semiconductor fabrication process.
Quantifying the Demand
UHP gases are essential across mission-critical industries, where even the smallest impurity can drastically impact product quality and overall performance. Typically, these gases have an impurity level of 1 part per million (ppm) and include specialty gases like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and noble gases like krypton, argon and neon. In semiconductor manufacturing, each type of gas plays a significant role and has its own unique purpose, some of which include: protecting silicon wafers from moisture, conducting heat in a way that prevents damage and chemical reactions, and increasing electrical resistivity.
As they continue to play an important part of the manufacturing process, the market for these UHP gases is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% from 2024 to 2031—exponential growth for overall demand in the coming years. But where did this surge in demand come from?
The Top Three Causes for the Surge in UHP Demand
The UHP gas market continues to grow across sectors to accommodate evolving innovations, regulations, and needs. The semiconductor industry has specifically experienced significant progress in recent years—both technologically and ethically—that contribute significantly to recent market changes. Let’s take a look at the top three causes for the predicted increased demand for UHP gases.
- Technological Advancements for Purification
Recent innovations in purification technology have introduced a wave of new possibilities for semiconductors. Most notable is new membrane separation capabilities primarily for atmospheric gases like argon and nitrogen that are able to control both speed and selectivity of gas flow during the purification process. Adopting advanced techniques will accelerate market growth for UHP gases as manufacturers develop and adopt new ways to improve purification levels for high-purity applications. - Sustainability Goals
The semiconductor industry is making active strides toward a greener footprint across production processes. Regulatory pressures and frameworks like corporate carbon-neutral initiatives and government mandates for greener manufacturing are driving these changes. New advancements in gas purification technology are presenting promising opportunities to reduce global energy use and carbon emissions. The latest membrane technology is a key development in this effort. Current separations for gas purification make up 15% of global energy consumption, relying on separation techniques that utilize far more energy. In contrast, new membrane technology marks a significant stride toward achieving the industry’s sustainability goals. - Innovations in the Semiconductor Sector
The rising demand for microelectronics and smart devices has placed UHP gases in the spotlight, as these devices rely on increasingly powerful and intricate components that demand exceptional purity levels. Recent advancements call for smaller features to enhance switching speed, power efficiency, and current flow, requiring UHP gases such as nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen in the production process. These gases are essential not only to meet the high demand for chips but also to ensure that product quality aligns with industry standards.
Optimize Your UHP Gases Usage with the Right Partner
The semiconductor industry leverages ultra high purity gases throughout its manufacturing process, where precision, purity, and contamination control are critical. But without meeting high purification standards, performance, quality, and yield are at risk. This necessitates assurance that your production process is complete with the best equipment for your UHP application’s success—and the best partner who can help you along the way.
Learn more about two of our UHP gas equipment and purification divisions:
- AES’s SEMI-GAS® division is dedicated to delivering ultra high purity gas delivery systems that are capable of fulfilling the evolving needs of semiconductor industry leaders and innovators. SEMI-GAS® is globally renowned for its ultra high purity services and solutions spanning from design and manufacturing to installation and ongoing support. Our wealth of experience in the rigorous demands for semiconductor gas delivery make SEMI-GAS®’ SEMI-S2 certified ultra high purity systems uniquely equipped to meet stringent standards for precision and purity, which is why Tier 1 semiconductor leaders turn to us as their partner of choice.
- ARM Purification offers high quality gas purification equipment that is proven to uphold unerring purity without pause, purifying specialty gases down to below 10 parts per trillion using advanced catalysts, heated getters, and absorber technologies. We offer advanced purification technologies that are designed for specialty gases such as arsine, phosphine, silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, and many more. These solutions enable high levels of purification for doping and etching gases, two elements critical to semiconductor manufacturing. Our ultra high purity components are manufactured in line with the highest industry standards and proven to deliver the ultra high purity gases and cryogens necessary for successful fabrication and maximum yield.
By partnering with an expert team with deep experience in stringent requirements for UHP gas precision and purity, we assist organizations across sectors to ensure maximum purity, safety, and control. Contact us today to learn more about what AES can do for you.
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