Electronic industry

One of the pillars of advanced electronics is high-quality chemical raw materials and intermediate products dedicated to modern manufacturing technologies and the innovative electronic devices for which they are essential. Among other things, the chemicals enable the production of components that improve the performance and reliability of electronic devices. In addition, they allow the production of electronic devices and products in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

Chemical raw materials, intermediate products and products in electronics

The electronics industry uses a wide variety of chemical raw materials and intermediate products in its manufacturing processes. Among the most commonly used are:

• Semiconductors – these are elements such as silicon or germanium and compounds of elements such as arsenic or antimony which are used to make semiconductor integrated circuits, diodes, transistors, and other electronic components.
• Solders – metal alloys used for joining electronic components, which include tin, lead or lead-free solders, among others.
• Chemical solvents – these include isopropyl alcohols, acetone, toluene or nitric acid, which are used, for example, to directly clean the surfaces of electronic components or to produce electronics cleaners.
• Precursors for semiconductor layers – these include such raw materials as silicon trichloride, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), alkali metals or transition metal compounds and are used as precursors in chemical vapour deposition (CVD) or physical vapour deposition (PVD) processes to form semiconductor layers on silicon substrates.
• Cleaning and processing chemicals – among them we distinguish, for example, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid or alkaline solutions, which are used in cleaning, surface treatment and etching processes in the electronics industry.
• Dyes and pigments – these are ready-made intermediates, which are used, among other things, to achieve the effect of colour displays, for light-emitting diodes (OLED) or other coloured electronic components.

Chemicals for innovative electronic technologies

Modern electronic devices require components based on high-quality raw materials that provide them with the required properties and will allow them to meet the expectations of consumers. Among the raw materials that currently play a key role in the electronics industry, there are ultrapure silicon trichloride and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS).

Ultrapure silicon trichloride is an excellent precursor used in the process of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of silicon layers. It is used in the production of semiconductor layers, which are essential for the manufacture of microprocessors, integrated circuits and other electronic components. The use of silicon trichloride in this process allows for controlled and homogeneous deposition of layers, which is crucial for the structural and electrical properties of the finished components. This material also works well in photovoltaic applications.

Tetraethoxysilane, also known as TEOS, is the second key chemical raw material used in the electronics industry. It is an organic silicon compound that is used to deposit protective dielectric layers on silicon wafers. These layers provide electrical insulation between the various layers of integrated circuits and protect them from external factors such as moisture and contamination. Like silicon trichloride, TEOS is used in the CVD process. The properties of tetraethoxysilane allow the formation of layers with the required insulating properties, appropriate thickness and uniformity.

The use of silicon trichloride and tetraethoxysilane in the electronics industry highlights the importance of chemical raw materials as key elements for the development of advanced technologies. Thanks to these raw materials, manufacturers are able to create efficient and reliable electronic components that are essential to the industry and the society.