Semiconductor material company's technological iteration accelerates

A generation of chips depends on a generation of processes, and a generation of processes relies on a generation of materials. As semiconductor process technology rapidly iterates, the development trend of domestically produced semiconductor materials has attracted much attention: How are the research and certification progress of advanced process supporting materials? Will supply chain disruptions impact the supply of electronic gases?

On May 7, the Sci-Tech Innovation Board’s “14th Five-Year Plan” themed collective performance briefing for the semiconductor materials industry was held. Senior executives from 7 companies including Anji Technology, JinHong Gas, Qingyi Optoelectronics, Jiuri New Materials, Luwei Optoelectronics, and Guanggang Gas discussed topics such as company operations and industry development opportunities, responding in detail to investor concerns.

Key Materials: Domestic Production and Technological Iteration Coexist

Based on statements from multiple companies at the performance briefing, the acceleration of domestic localization and the speeding up of technological iteration have become the two main themes in the development of the semiconductor materials industry.

“The company has positioned semiconductor masks domestically at a leading level (14nm). As the company’s process nodes continue to break through, we will increase development and validation efforts with downstream customers,” said Du Wubing, Chairman and President of Luwei Optoelectronics, regarding domestically advanced process masks that investors are concerned about.

According to Du Wubing, Luwei Optoelectronics has achieved mass production of semiconductor masks at the 150nm process node, and the 130nm masks have passed customer validation and are in small-batch production. The company’s semiconductor mask manufacturing technology can cover third-generation semiconductor-related products, and is fully applied in IC manufacturing, IC devices, advanced packaging, and other fields, meeting the needs of advanced semiconductor chip packaging, semiconductor devices, MEMS sensors, RF chips, silicon-based OLEDs, and other applications.

Similarly, in the field of semiconductor masks, Qingyi Optoelectronics has achieved large-scale mass production of masks at the 180nm process node, and small-batch production at the 150nm node. The company is steadily advancing the development of PSM and OPC masks for process nodes from 130nm to 40nm, and has initiated the development plan for 28nm masks, continuously breaking into high-end processes. Additionally, the company has initially mastered core key processes such as electron beam lithography and dry etching for high-end masks, laying a solid foundation for subsequent product upgrades and technological iteration.

It is worth noting that the localization of core equipment and materials in the mask industry is also progressing simultaneously.

“The company always closely monitors the technological progress of domestic equipment manufacturers and conducts assessments and small-batch validations of domestically produced equipment,” said Jiang Wei, General Manager and Employee Representative Director of Qingyi Optoelectronics. “At the same time, the company has established long-term stable strategic partnerships with leading global quartz substrate suppliers and is also collaborating with domestic material manufacturers to promote related technological breakthroughs.”

In the field of photoresists, domestic manufacturers’ research, development, and certification work are also steadily advancing.

Zhao Guofeng, Chairman of Jiuri New Materials, stated that by December 31, 2025, the company will have completed the research and development of 35 types of semiconductor g/i-line photoresists and several conventional panel photoresists, and will continue testing and validation with downstream customers, involving more than 40 related clients in panels, discrete devices, power devices, sensors, and packaging. Currently, 17 display and semiconductor photoresist products have been successfully introduced to market clients, achieving stable sales.

Looking at other key semiconductor materials such as wet electronic chemicals, Anji Technology’s functional wet electronic chemicals have been introduced to various degrees in advanced process nodes for logic and memory. In 2025, this segment is expected to generate revenue of 453 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 63.73%.

“Looking ahead, the capacity planning and customer expansion for functional wet electronic chemicals are progressing steadily as planned. With capacity release, deeper customer penetration, and product structure optimization, these chemicals will further enhance the company’s position in the semiconductor materials field,” said Wang Shumin, Chairman of Anji Technology.

At the same time, in the chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry sector, Anji Technology has made breakthroughs in 3D/2.5D ICs, maintaining a first-mover advantage, and is actively exploring and investing resources in new materials, new applications, and various technological nodes.

Electronic Gases: Multiple Solutions to Ensure Stable Supply

Currently, due to the impact of the blockage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the forced shutdown of Qatar’s helium plants, and export controls on Russian liquid helium, global helium supply faces severe challenges, with regional and localized tensions expected in the short term.

Meanwhile, helium is an indispensable key material in the electronic and semiconductor industry, widely used in integrated circuit manufacturing, semiconductor displays, low-temperature superconductivity, fiber optic communications, scientific research experiments, and other fields. As downstream customer capacity ramps up, market demand continues to grow.

In response to this situation, He Xin, Secretary of the Board of Guanggang Gas, conveyed firm confidence at the performance briefing: “The company is actively coordinating global gas sources to fully ensure the stability and safety of helium supply for key domestic customers.”

Specifically, to cope with complex and changing global patterns, Guanggang Gas has established a global helium supply system. In terms of helium sources, the company is the only domestic gas enterprise with large-scale, long-term agreements and multi-regional sourcing; in terms of transportation, the company has invested nearly 100 liquid helium cryogenic tanks to ensure the stable demand for helium in high-end industries in China; for ultra-high purity helium supply, the company has built intelligent filling, mixing, storage, and recycling plants in Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou. Additionally, the company is collaborating with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to develop the country’s first small-molecule deep underground storage project.

JinHong Gas’s BOG helium extraction project in Xinjiang is also progressing steadily and is expected to enter trial production in the second half of this year. Once operational, the company’s self-supply and market supply capacity for helium will be further enhanced.

Chen Ying, Secretary of the Board of JinHong Gas, introduced that the company has outstanding comprehensive competitive advantages in helium business: first, it has high-quality gas sources, securing multiple overseas sources through long-term contracts, while also developing domestic independent capacity to form cost advantages and diversified supply channels, effectively hedging against international market price fluctuations; second, it offers leading product quality, relying on advanced purification and liquefaction technologies, with internal control standards higher than industry norms, ensuring product purity can meet the high standards required in high-end manufacturing and scientific research; third, it has a comprehensive network and service capability, leveraging a nationwide logistics supply chain system, equipped with specialized storage and transportation equipment, precise analysis and testing technologies, and flexible filling capacity, providing customers with stable, efficient gas solutions and full-process support.