TOKYO, JAPAN: Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd will expand its facilities for production of compound semiconductor materials at the Chiba Works (Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture) to further strengthen this business and enhance a stable supply of such materials to customers.
Given expectations of a continued increase in demand for GaAs epiwafers, the company has decided to double the compound semiconductor materials production capacity at the Chiba Works with an investment of about four billion yen for the purpose of establishing a fully secured system for stable supply as well as expanding the business.
Compared to single elemental semiconductors such as silicon, compound semiconductors generally have such characteristics as high-speed signal processing capabilities and excellent heat resistance. In particular, gallium arsenide (GaAs) compound semiconductors are widely adopted for high-frequency devices used in mobile phones and other equipment. Compound semiconductor materials for which the company will expand production are GaAs epitaxial wafers.
In addition, Sumitomo is engaged in the developing new compound semiconductor materials. Specifically, the company will participate in the government-private sector joint project for next generation power semiconductors at the Nagoya Institute of Technology where it undertakes R&D on gallium nitride (GaN), one of the next generation power semiconductor materials.
(C) WOC News