There is no doubt that ASML is the overlord of contemporary lithography machine . Currently, only ASML can manufacture the world's most advanced EUV lithography machine, bringing all the share of the high-end market of lithography machines into the pocket. At the same time, in terms of DUV lithography machines, with immersion technology, it has made it invincible and has no rivals.
It is worth noting that when manufacturing high-order chips such as 5nm, not only does EUV lithography machine need to be used, but also a DUV lithography machine is also needed, which is a high-order chip manufacturing process by the two.
So, with the advantages of exclusive manufacturing of high-end lithography machines, ASML has won the high-end lithography machine market and made a lot of money. Although Nikon can also manufacture immersive DUV lithography machines, it occupies very little market share, and the level of Canon is only developing in the low-end market.
We can read the history of ASML development and learn that its becoming the overlord of lithography machines is due to its two rises.
was the first immersion type. Although the light source used is still ARF, the immersion type can shorten the wavelength of the light source to 134 nanometers. This is the immersion DUV lithography machine first launched by ASML, allowing it to quickly occupy the market.
The second time was an EUV lithography machine, and the same way, it was the first to launch the EUV lithography machine. So far, it is the only EUV lithography machine in the world that can manufacture EUV lithography machines.
It is precisely because of these two rises that ASML has become the overlord of the lithography machine market, and it has been 20 years since then. However, with the development of technology and the choice of technology to replace many companies, ASML's position as the dominant leader of the next generation of lithography machines may not be able to be preserved.
According to media reports, Intel recently announced a multi- chip package , new 3D stacking technology. This technology can realize the mixed use of chips from different types, different functions, and different chip manufacturers. This technology can avoid EUV lithography machines and improve the comprehensive performance of mid- and low-end chips.
You should know that Canon and Kioxia have conducted cooperative research on NIL technology a long time ago. They have made initial breakthroughs and are still in the field of improvement and optimization. They can be commercially available in 2025.
You should know that NIL mass production technology adopts printing and microelectronics manufacturing technology. This technology uses electron beams to achieve etching of the chip, which not only solves the resolution splits brought by current use of optical diffraction, but also reduces the width of the electronic circuits on the chip and optimizes the use space of the chip area.
Moreover, according to the test data, the 5nm chip made using NIL is much lower in power consumption than the EUV lithography machine, at about 10 percentage points. Most importantly, its cost of use is much lower than that of EUV lithography machine.
I believe you still remember that in order to realize independent research and development in the field of lithography machines, my country once led a scientific research team to "learn from" at the ASML headquarters. Our scientific research team went there with great enthusiasm, but never expected that what we would be "sarcastic" in the forefront was. The attitude given by ASML was "even if you gave the drawings, you would not be able to create them."
What people unexpectedly arise is that ASML has continuously increased its layout in my country in the past two years, increasing offices, expanding team size, increasing shipments, etc., and has hired more than 1,500 Chinese employees. Even when the United States expanded its restrictions, it chose to fight against the United States. The reason why
ASML has changed its normal state to show goodwill to my country is to seize the market and let its equipment penetrate into the industrial chain of our domestic enterprises. In addition, my country has not stopped research and development in lithography machine technology. On the contrary, in the accelerated promotion, there are currently breakthrough progress.
We will not stop the process of domestic production of lithography machines because of ASML's demonstration. After the Huawei and ZTE incidents, we even have to take the core technology into our own hands if we don't want to be stucked. To avoid being hurt by the pain of being bored again, we must work hard to cure it, and through our own efforts, so as to achieve localization of technology, so as to "have food in your hands and not panic when encountering problems."
Whether it is Intel's 3D stacking technology, Canon's NIL technology, and my country's breakthrough in the field of lithography machines, so far, are not enough to shake the dominant position of ASML lithography machines, but EUV lithography machines have difficulty making breakthroughs in light sources and wavelengths. The subsequent development of EUV lithography machines is limited, which is the most important thing.
Of course, there is no doubt that domestic lithography machines have exceeded 90nm, but we cannot be proud. There is still a long way to achieve full domestic production in the field of semiconductor . I believe that through our efforts, it is not any problem to achieve technological breakthroughs in the field of lithography machines.
Although our technology started late, we are not afraid of any difficulties, let alone any suppression and sanctions. You should know that in front of our great Chinese people, all suppression and blockade are paper tigers. He has been in the east and thirty years, "Now you mock me, there will be times when you make you cry in the future."
The rise of my country's technology, anyone's obstacles are "a mantis arm that drives a car", and you are overestimating your ability!
