Navigating the Semiconductor Photoresist Landscape: Evolution, Tensions, and Government Intervention

Japan doesn’t dominate semiconductor fabrication or lithography machines like it once did. But they still keep a mighty grip on the supply chain, particularly one very special chemical. The photoresist is often ignored, we just kind of offhandedly mention it at the end there. But without question, it is the most important chemical of the lithography process. Literally indispensable. Some 90% of this market is held by Japanese companies like JSR and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, amongst others. One of those companies is today state-owned. In this video, we examine the many generations of photoresist used by the industry and Japan's low-key monopoly of it.

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