From Computing to Storage: The Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Industry Chain is Taking Shape
The article "From Computing to Storage: The 2D Semiconductor Industry Chain is Taking Shape" discusses the rise of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors as a pivotal material in the post-Moore era. As silicon-based chips approach physical limits, 2D semiconductors like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), offer atomic-layer thinness and superior electrical properties, making them a promising non-silicon alternative for advanced nodes beyond 1nm.
Globally, industry leaders like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, along with research institutes like IMEC, are actively investing in this field. Domestically in China, significant progress is being made across the entire supply chain, from material production and equipment R&D to chip integration and ecosystem development.
**Key highlights include:**
* **Material & Equipment Breakthroughs:** Chinese research teams and companies like Jimo Xin Technology have achieved mass production of 6-inch and 8-inch 2D semiconductor single-crystal wafers using domestically developed equipment like Oxy-MOCVD. This addresses the critical challenge of large-area, high-quality material growth. Breakthroughs have also been made in p-type 2D materials (e.g., MoSi2N4) and wafer-scale ferroelectric thin films, essential for building complementary circuits and low-power transistors.
* **Engineering Ecosystem Formation:** A landmark 8-inch 2D semiconductor pilot line in Pudong has become fully operational, bridging the gap between lab research and industrial manufacturing. The release of a Process Design Kit (PDK) compatible with mainstream EDA tools further connects design and fabrication, supporting wafer-level manufacturing of complex circuits.
* **Expanding Application Landscape:** Applications are expanding from logic computing to memory. Chinese researchers have developed pioneering 2D semiconductor-based microprocessors, including a 32-bit RISC-V CPU and a higher-density multi-bit parallel processor. In memory, 2D materials' ultra-low leakage current enables DRAM with exceptionally long data retention and advances toward single-electron non-volatile storage. 2D semiconductors also show unique potential in RF circuits, radiation-hardened communications, flexible electronics, and quantum computing.
In conclusion, the 2D semiconductor industry in China is rapidly advancing from laboratory research into the engineering validation and small-batch production phase. A complete industrial chain covering materials, equipment, manufacturing, design, and application is初步 forming, positioning the sector as a new competitive dimension in the global semiconductor landscape.
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