Politics in Semiconductors (N06)

Semiconductors are often in the news these days due to two interesting developments. First, they are hitting the limit of physics scientifically. Second, they are a strategic tool for international politics. This article attempts to introduce how science, technology, business, and politics got merged onto semiconductors. It is based on a collection of international news and the situation can change as directed by international politics.

Wall first. Manufacturing of semiconductors began hitting a technology wall about 10 years ago when the biggest CPU maker in the world Intel based in the USA found difficulties in producing CPU at 10nm (nanometer) with a good yield. A well-known consumer electronic brand Samsung based in Korea successfully went below 10nm to 3nm recently but found its yield rate to be poor (below 50%). A pure technology brand TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) based in Taiwan shines. It is able to make semiconductors at 3nm with a good yield rate (above 80%). It has formed an international alliance with USA (Synopsis and Nvidia) and the Netherlands (ASML) to develop 2nm and 1nm. Advanced processes such as 1nm refer to a state of electronic circuits packed together as close as touching the boundary of molecular physics. There may be a few dozens of semiconductor manufacturers in the world, but only the above trio were able to go below 10nm. They have become politically strategic assets internationally especially TSMC because the rest of the world depends on them to supply advanced chips to make advanced products in aviation, computing, military, and everything with a competitive edge.

Now war. Since there are only 3 countries controlling the supply of advanced semiconductors, the US government thinks that giving incentives to the other two countries to form an alliance is a good move. Surprisingly, latest news has revealed that the alliance is between USA, Taiwan, and Japan. This situation highlights a sensitive position of Korea as it has invested heavily in China. We can easily get lost if we are talking about semiconductors or politics.

Why do we need semiconductors in the first place? The tiny and fast semiconductors replace the bulky and slow vacuum tubes used in the early fifties to make computers. If we are old enough, the first-generation mobile phones in the mid-eighties were very dumb and as chunky as a bottle of wine without taste. Current generation smart phones use semiconductors- sleek, and powerful.

Why are advanced semiconductors so difficult to make? Semiconductors are switches to control the flow of electrons dynamically in a circuit. When the switches are big in size such as those on/off switches on our walls for lighting, life stays normal and enjoyable. When the switches are reduced in size to human hair which we barely see, life becomes tough. Human hair has a thickness of about 70 microns (according to an online search and a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter). This size was the state of semiconductors prior to Year 1985 when PC turned up on the desk for the first time. Reducing 70 microns a thousand times gives us 70nm (nanometer). TSMC is making 3nm semiconductors today (2023 April)! The diameter of a water molecule is about 0.3nm. We are touching the boundary of molecular physics. We need molecular engineering to deal with semiconductors.