Feb 21 2007
Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has developed a new process for making high-quality compound semiconductors based on gallium nitride (GaN) and other nitrides to meet growing demand mainly for use in blue/white LEDs. The new process, named the “Hybrid PPDTM process,” is a combination of the conventional metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process and SDK’s proprietary plasma assisted physical deposition (PPDTM) process for growing nitride-based semiconductor crystals.
The new process technology enables the production of four-inch epitaxial wafers with high quality, which is not possible with the conventional MOCVD process. SDK has also succeeded, using the Hybrid PPD process, in developing blue LEDs with the highest-level brightness on the market today. SDK will start commercial shipments of these blue LEDs within this year.
Furthermore, SDK has decided to build a facility at its site in Chiba, Japan, to produce four-inch epitaxial wafers based on the new process technology. Due to the larger size of wafers under the new technology and the construction of the new line, SDK’s blue LED production capacity will be increased, from 30 million units a month at present, to 100 million units a month by the end of this year.
Under the ongoing medium-term consolidated business plan, the Passion Project, SDK is aggressively expanding its ultra bright LED business, centering on GaN-based semiconductors. SDK aims to strengthen its presence in the growing LCD backlighting and general illumination markets on the strength of the new process technology and further development of compound semiconductors of other colors and wavelengths, having still higher brightness and power.