In the complex world of electronics manufacturing, wet chemicals play an indispensable role, particularly in the production and processing of semiconductors. These high-purity chemicals are used throughout the semiconductor fabrication process, from wafer cleaning and etching to surface conditioning and doping. Without wet chemicals, the precise, contamination-free environments required to produce microchips and integrated circuits would not be achievable.
The term “wet chemicals” refers to liquid-phase chemical compounds used to manipulate materials at the microscopic or even atomic level. In semiconductor applications, they must meet ultra-high purity standards—often measured in parts per trillion—to prevent contamination that could affect the performance of highly sensitive electronic devices.
Among the most commonly used wet chemicals are sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and ammonium hydroxide. These chemicals are used individually or in combination for a variety of purposes:
Cleaning: To remove organic and inorganic contaminants from silicon wafers.
Etching: To precisely remove layers of material during pattern formation.
Stripping: To eliminate photoresist and other residues after lithography.
Surface treatment: To modify surface energy or passivate the wafer before further processing.
The importance of wet chemicals has grown in parallel with the miniaturization of semiconductor components. As chip nodes shrink to sub-5 nm levels, the margin for error becomes razor-thin, and even the smallest particle or impurity can compromise yield or device performance. This places extreme pressure on the purity, consistency, and delivery systems of wet chemicals.
Another factor driving demand is the rapid expansion of advanced electronics applications, including 5G, electric vehicles, AI, and IoT devices. These technologies require more complex chips, increasing the number of processing steps—and thus, chemical usage—per wafer.
The global wet chemicals market for semiconductor applications is thriving, led by countries with strong electronics manufacturing ecosystems like Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, and the United States. Investments in new chip fabrication plants (fabs), particularly in response to global chip shortages, are further fueling demand.
However, challenges persist. The handling and disposal of these chemicals require stringent safety protocols and waste management systems due to their hazardous nature. Additionally, supply chain constraints and the need for localized chemical manufacturing are gaining attention to ensure uninterrupted production.