Semiconductors are vital components in the modern technologies that we use in our everyday lives, both in industrial automation and consumer products. Computers, automobile electronics, smartphones and other “smart” devices, robotics and medical devices that depend on semiconductor chips are just a few examples that demonstrate the wide breadth of their applications.
The demand for semiconductors is surging. According to a news release from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS; www.wsts.org), the semiconductor industry’s estimated growth in 2024 was 19%, with sales expected to reach $627 billion. WSTS predicts the industry to grow another 11.2% with sales of $697 billion this year [1].
The rising demand for semiconductors is being driven by growing demands for computing and data storage (datacenters) and electronics, resulting in large part from the increased use of machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Chemicals used in chip manufacture
Semiconductors are materials that can conduct electricity under certain conditions. While the base of most semiconductors is silicon, many products from the chemical process industries (CPI) play a vital role in manufacturing modern semiconductor chips. According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC; www.americanchemistry.com), “It takes no less than 500 highly specialized chemicals to manufacture one semiconductor chip.” An ACC report [2] describes how chemicals are used in semiconductor manufacture. A small, partial list for example, includes the following:
• Dopants are added to silicon to achieve specific electrical properties. These are usually inorganic materials — phosphorous, boron and antimony are a few examples.
• Numerous solvents and abrasive chemicals, such as colloidal silica, cerium oxide, alumina and ammonium hydroxide are used to remove surface defects and polish surfaces.
• Chemical cleaning of the silicon wafers may involve acids, bases and solvents such as isopropanol, propylene glycol ethers, acetone, hydrogen peroxide and hydrofluoric acid.
• Photoresist chemicals are used to transfer circuit patterns onto silicon wafers. Examples are cyclic polyisoprene resins, ethyl acrylate and acetoxystyrene.
• High-purity specialty gases are used to create controlled environments and for chemical vapor deposition.
An upswing in semiconductor chip demand will create an increased demand for the chemicals that enable their manufacture. A recent article by McKinsey & Company [3] says that with the anticipated growth in the semiconductor market, “the demand for associated chemicals and materials is expected to more than triple by 2030.” According to the article, there is currently an insufficient supply within the U.S. for about 60% of the necessary materials and chemicals. It offers a detailed analysis of the supply situation and categorizes chemicals according to their availability and supply challenges. As the article emphasizes, a robust chemical supply is vital to meet semiconductor production demands. ■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. WSTS Semiconductor Market Forecast Fall 2024 – News Release, www.wsts.org
2. American Chemistry Council, Chemistry in Semiconductors and Electronics, www.americanchemistry.com, July 19, 2024.
3. McKinsey Company, Creating a thriving chemical semiconductor supply chain in America, www.mckinsey.com, March 25, 2025.