Samsung’s Adoption of Molybdenum in Gen 9 V-NAND
Samsung has chosen to integrate molybdenum into the metalization process of its Gen 9 V-NAND, a move reported by TheElec. The company has procured five Mo deposition machines from Lam Research and plans to increase this number to twenty units next year. Unlike tungsten fluoride (WF6), Mo precursors used in this process are solid and require heating to 600 degrees Celsius to convert into gas. This strategic switch from tungsten to molybdenum in the oxide-nitride-oxide structure enhances transistor resistivity, enabling Samsung to stack more layers in its NAND production.
Impact on NAND Material Supply Chain
Samsung’s decision to adopt molybdenum signifies significant changes in the NAND material supply chain. The company is sourcing Mo from suppliers like Entegris and Air Liquide, with Merck also providing samples. This shift is expected to affect the market for WF6, with Mo priced approximately ten times higher than WF6. Consequently, domestic semiconductor material firms such as SK Trichem, Hansol Chemical, and Oceanbridge are developing molybdenum resources to meet industry demand.
Broadening Applications Beyond NAND
Beyond its application in NAND production, molybdenum precursors are anticipated to play a crucial role in advancing DRAM and logic chips. This expansion underscores molybdenum’s versatility and growing importance across various semiconductor technologies. As Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, and Kioxia explore molybdenum adoption, the semiconductor industry is poised for further innovation and efficiency gains in the realm of high-performance memory and logic devices.
Comments from the Author
Molybdenum (Mo) is a multi-faceted Metal that always amazes me. We use Mo in our touch screens to make them more corrosion-resistant . Molybdenum is more well known for its exceptional properties think of high melting point, unmatched strength in extreme heat, superb electrical conductivity, and remarkable corrosion resistance Molybdenum finds itself indispensable across diverse industries. From fortifying steel to catalyzing chemical reactions and even shaping the future of semiconductor technology like in Samsung’s cutting-edge V-NAND production, molybdenum’s versatility knows no bounds.
