Unlock the Future of Materials and Products: Join the MERCK ALD and ALE Innovation Webinar!

Join us for an exciting event on October 18, 2023: "Revolutionizing Materials and Products: Innovations in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Atomic Layer Etch (ALE)." Presented by Sergei Ivanov, Senior R&D Manager at Merck KGaA, and Martin McBriarty, Senior Scientist, this webinar promises groundbreaking insights into the world of materials and product innovation.

Event Details:

Date: October 18, 2023

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm CET

Host: Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe

Agenda:

- 4:00 pm CET - Welcome remarks by Laith Altimime, President, SEMI Europe.

- 4:05 pm CET - "Revolutionizing Materials and Products: Innovations in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Atomic Layer Etch (ALE)" by Sergei Ivanov & Martin McBriarty.

- 4:45 pm CET - Q&A session moderated by Laith Altimime, followed by conclusions from all speakers.

About the Speakers:

Sergei Ivanov: Sergei is the Senior R&D Manager in the Organometallics division of Thin Films Business. He leads a research program focused on developing novel precursors for the deposition of metal, metal nitride, and metal oxide films. Sergei holds a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from Kurnakov Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology.

Martin McBriarty: Martin is a Senior Scientist leading the development of atomic layer etch and other vapor-phase etch methods. He earned his B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Florida and his Ph.D. in the same field at Northwestern University. Martin joined Intermolecular in 2018 after completing postdoctoral research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

German Firm EMD Electronics Invests $300 Million to Expand Semiconductor Manufacturing in Pennsylvania

US-based EMD Electronics, a subsidiary of German Merck KGaA, is set to bolster its North American presence by establishing a $300 million semiconductor specialty gases manufacturing facility in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. This strategic move, aimed at doubling their production capacity for critical semiconductor components, is anticipated to generate 68 job opportunities.

The endeavor enjoys financial backing from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, underscoring the state's commitment to fostering business expansion. This expansion not only highlights the industry's focus on supply chain resilience, domestic manufacturing, and emerging technologies like semiconductors for AI, IoT, and 5G, but also emphasizes the notable German origin of the company.

Germany-Based EMD Electronics Expands Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Operations - Area Development

Germany-Based EMD Electronics Expands Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Operations - Area Development EMD Electronics, the North American electronics business of Merck KGaA, plans to expand its operation and establish a semiconductor specialty gasses manufacturing facility in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The $300 million project is expected to cr www.areadevelopment.com

Merck Showcases Expertise in Thin Film Deposition and Atomic Layer Etching at AVS ALD 2023 Conference

Leading scientists and engineers from MERCK present papers on advanced materials and semiconductor processing techniques at AVS ALD/ALE 2023.

Merck, a global science and technology company, is set to participate as a sponsor in the 23rd International Conference on Atomic Layer (ALD/ALE) 2023 organized by the Association for Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces & Processing (AVS). The conference focuses on the science and technology of atomic layer-controlled deposition of thin films and related topics such as atomic layer etching.

Merck's leading engineers and experts will present their research papers at the conference, covering a wide range of cutting-edge topics. Thong Ngo, a Senior Process Engineer, will discuss the synthesis of 2D MoSe2 by atomic layer deposition on a wafer scale. Randall Higuchi, a Process Engineer, will present an evaluation of Zr and Hf precursors with higher thermal stability for atomic layer deposition of ZrO2 and HfO2 films.

Ravi Kanjolia, a Technology Fellow at Merck, will explore the reverse templating effects of low-resistivity Ru Ald on sputtered Ru, while Haripin Chandra, a Senior R&D Manager, will discuss the properties of VHF PEALD silicon nitride film deposited by precursors with different amino ligands. Martin McBriarty, a Materials Scientist, will present on thermal ALE reactants for semiconductor processing, and Ravi Kanjolia will also discuss crystalline gallium nitride deposition on SiO2/Si by RF-biased atomic layer annealing.

Furthermore, Haripin Chandra will participate in the Emerging Materials Session, focusing on EUV lithography materials. Merck's experts will offer valuable insights and share their expertise with the conference attendees, contributing to the advancement of thin film deposition and atomic layer-controlled processes.

Merck's presence at AVS ALD 2023 demonstrates the company's commitment to advancing technology and providing innovative materials solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Merck's experts on-site for personalized advice and support. The conference, being held from July 23 to July 26, 2023, in Bellevue, Washington, promises to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster collaborations among scientists and industry professionals in the field of atomic layer-controlled deposition.

Source: The 23rd International Conference on Atomic Layer (ALD/ALE) 2023 | Merck (merckgroup.com)

Merck has introduced new ALD barrier materials that are superior in flexible OLED devices

Merck has introduced new barrier materials for flexible OLED devices, utilizing low-temperature Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology. These materials offer superior flexibility, reliability, and longer lifetime compared to existing solutions. The ALD silicon materials, recognized with the Display Component of the Year 2023 award from the Society for Information Display, provide improved thin film encapsulation for OLEDs. Merck's investment in OLED production capacity expansion in Korea and China strengthens its position as a leading global supplier of high-purity OLED materials, meeting the growing demand and ensuring a stable supply chain.

Merck has introduced new barrier materials that offer superior flexibility, higher reliability, and longer lifetime in flexible OLED devices compared to existing solutions. These innovative materials, processed using low-temperature Plasma Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology, provide highly improved barrier characteristics that are 100 times more effective and 20 times thinner than current solutions. Merck's ALD silicon materials have won the Display Component of the Year 2023 award from the Society for Information Display (SID), recognizing their advancements in the display industry.

The demand for flexible OLED displays, which enable free-form devices and new applications, is rapidly growing. However, OLEDs are susceptible to degradation by moisture and oxygen. To address this, Merck developed encapsulation materials that are conformable, flexible, and durable. By leveraging its expertise in developing encapsulation materials for the semiconductor industry, Merck created barrier materials that enhance the thin film encapsulation of flexible OLEDs. These materials not only extend the lifetime of OLED devices but also meet stringent automotive requirements.

“As a pioneer in display materials, we are committed to providing our customers with solutions that enable new form factors,” said Damien Tuleu, Executive Vice President and Head of Display Solutions business unit at Electronics. “As the most advanced thin-film deposition technology, our low-temperature ALD silicon materials offer highly improved barrier characteristics - 100 times more effective than current solutions. And they come along with a thinner layer too - 20 times thinner than existing solutions. Ultimately, this means better conformability, flexibility, and durability than ever before.”

Merck's investment in OLED manufacturing capacities and its commitment to meeting the increasing demand for high-purity OLED materials have positioned the company as a leading global supplier in this technology. With three decades of research experience and early investments in OLED production, Merck is well-prepared to serve the market's needs. The company's expansion of OLED production capacity in Korea and China, with an investment of approximately €30 million, allows for easier access to OLED materials and a more stable and flexible supply chain for its Asia-based customers.

Source: Merck’s new barrier materials | Merck (merckgroup.com)

EMD Performance Materials announces further investments of electronics business and new name: EMD Electronics

• New name reflects the product and service portfolio designed to enable the future of electronics in a data-driven world
• Investment into R&D and innovation centers in Tempe and Silicon Valley

EMD Performance Materials today announced an expanded focus on the US electronics business and a new name in the US: EMD Electronics. EMD Electronics, a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, includes a broad portfolio of semiconductor materials, semiconductor delivery systems and services, display, and surface solutions. The Electronics business globally employs more than 7,400 – with a third of employees in the US across 29 sites, with plans for continued growth in planarization and thin films organizations following recent investments. More information about the Electronics business can be found here.

Additionally, the company announced the relocation of the Silicon Valley Innovation Hub from Menlo Park to Intermolecular's San Jose facilities, combining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's innovation efforts in the Bay area with Intermolecular's services for materials and electronics, creating a unique space that empowers collaboration with startups. This announcement follows the $22 million investment at the EMD Electronics site in Tempe, Arizona for its R&D and production for semiconductor materials announced in February.

"Our name change and investment in these centers demonstrate our commitment to continued innovation in electronics and supporting US customers' requirements for capitalizing on growing opportunities driven by digital transformations and data-driven electronics," said Jeff White, President of EMD Electronics. "Our customers are working on cutting-edge technologies and products that range from better immersive displays and surfaces in cars and consumer electronics to how to move neuromorphic and quantum computing to the next level. Our combined expertise and portfolio in display and surface innovations, semiconductor materials and the safe delivery and storage of speciality chemicals and gases will enable new discoveries and novel products not even imagined yet."

As the company behind the companies advancing digital living, the Electronics business sector is involved in all major technology trends – be it 5G, Big Data, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, or the Internet of Things. Thanks to these and other megatrends, the demand for ever smaller, faster and more energy-efficient electronics is continuously growing. Sample innovations enabled by EMD 

Electronics include:

• Patterning, deposition and spin-on dielectrics materials to make 3D NAND possible
• DSA – revolutionary way of building microchips of the future
• OLED for brighter, thinner, free-form displays
• Liquid crystals for electronic steerable antennas to bring connectivity to places currently not reachable
• eyerise ® liquid crystal for greener windows and innovative building architecture

These technologies and innovations are being implemented across a diverse set of customers including larger companies and start-up companies. To enable new inventions for start-ups, EMD Electronics has launched a program for early-stage and growth companies looking to advance their technologies in the areas of displays, semiconductor materials, neuromorphic computing, AI enabled materials development and smart manufacturing by applying for the EvoNexus MarketLink Program by March 12.

Merck sets up ALD/CVD Precursor R&D center in Taiwan

Merck has inaugurated its first IC materials application R&D center in Asia, which will be located in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. More than EUR2.8 million (US$3.35 million) will be invested in the facility. The center will be supporting Merck's local semiconductor customers in Taiwan, and clients in other Asian countries including Korea, Japan and China. The center will consist of two labs supporting the development of:

• CVD/ALD materials for thin-film processes
• conductive pastes for IC packaging applications

Merck currently has 660 employees stationed in Taiwan. The company has a global workforce of around 50,000 people.

Source: Digi Times (LINK)