Precious Metals in Semiconductor

 

Semiconductors and Precious Metals: Understanders in Precision Manufacturing 

 

1. History of Semiconductors

Semiconductor technology began in 1947 with the invention of transistors at Bell Laboratories. In 1958, integrated circuits (ICs) appeared, leading to the miniaturization and performance enhancement of electronic devices. In 1965, Moore’s Law was proposed, and the evolution of semiconductors accelerated exponentially. In the 1980s, Japanese companies dominated the global market, and today, these technologies are indispensable for AI, IoT, and autonomous driving. 

 

2. Precious metals and semiconductor manufacturing

Semiconductor manufacturing is an extremely precise process involving hundreds of processes. Precious metals (Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Ru) play a variety of roles by utilizing their electrical, thermal, and chemical properties.

 

Main Use Situations and Roles of Precious Metals

Processes and Applications	Precious Metals	Main Roles and Reasons
Diffusion Barrier Layer	Ru, Pt	Prevents metal diffusion and ensures reliability of fine wiring.
Electrode Formation	Au, Pd	Used for devices requiring high-speed response. Efficiency of signal transmission.
Wire bonding	Au, Ag	Used for electrical connections between chips and substrates due to high conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Die bonding	Ag, Au, Pd	Used as a bonding material to secure chips to substrates. Thermal conductivity and adhesiveness are important.
Packaging	Au, Ag, Pt	Used for external connections and protective layers. Improved durability and reliability.
Testing probe	Pd, Ag, Au, Pt, Ir, Rh	Used for probe needles for circuit inspection. High hardness, abrasion resistance, and stable conductivity are required.