Rebirth of a technological power

[Item: Low-end lithography machine]

[Experience value: 100000/100000 (can be upgraded)]

[Optimization point: 250.8]

The next day, after Cai Jin woke up, he went to the small factory and checked the lithography machine. The data had changed.

"System, upgrade!" Cai Jin chose to upgrade without hesitation.

Uh-huh!

A glimmer of light flashed!

Suddenly, this photolithography machine changed.

At least it looks a lot more pleasing to the eye.

Cai Jin also understood the relevant information.

[Item: Mid-to-low-end lithography machine]

[Experience value: 0/500000]

[Optimization point: 250.8]

This photolithography machine has suddenly been upgraded from being able to produce 300nm chips to the level of 150nm chips.

However, 150nm chips are still low-end chips and there is nothing to be happy about.

Cai Jin continued to let the lithography machine run.

He then began assembling equipment to produce photoresist.

There is a saying in chip development called Moore's Law, which states that performance will double every 18 to 24 months.

One of the cornerstones of maintaining the vitality of Moore's Law is photolithography technology. Every 18 to 24 months, the feature size of the smallest pattern that can be formed on an integrated circuit board using photolithography technology will shrink by 30%.

Photoresist is the core material of the photolithography process. It can react with light to allow the required precise circuit patterns to appear on the chip material.

The quality and performance of photoresist will directly affect the excellent yield rate in the integrated circuit manufacturing process.

In a nutshell, the more precise the circuit pattern produced by photolithography, the better the performance of the chip.

In terms of semiconductor photoresist, China is simply miserable, with its domestic market share being only 1%!

China's annual photoresist production has reached an astonishing 70,000 tons.

But these outputs are nothing more than primary products.

As for mid-to-high-end photoresists, no company belongs to China.

Yes, reality is so cruel!

Dominating this industry are Dow Chemical, DuPont, Huntsman, Neon JSR, Shin-Etsu, Tokyo Chemical, Fuji, Sumitomo, TOK, Mitsubishi Chemical, Asahi Kasei, Hitachi Chemical, Nippon Steel Chemical, Taiyo Ink, and so on. Plus Korean Dongjin Chemical, LG Chemical, Italian Morton and so on.

The most striking example is South Korea.

Since the two sides had a huge conflict in 2019, Japan's Ministry of Economy announced that it would strengthen review and control of semiconductor materials exported to South Korea, including fluorine polyimide, photoresist and high-purity hydrogen fluoride. This move directly affected South Korea's semiconductors. Industry can only give in.

So although the global market for photoresist is less than 10 billion US dollars, Cai Jin wants to solve it.

Once the photolithography machine and photoresist are solved, China Semiconductor will basically solve the dilemma it faces.

As for the remaining issues, they are insignificant.

Moreover, Cai Jin has decided to directly make the photolithography machine and photoresist at a bargain price and kill those bastards.

You must know that all the time, if you want to buy a top-notch photolithography machine, people will give you alms!

Cai Jin felt angry just thinking about it.

Today you are high and mighty, but tomorrow you will be bankrupt and crying in frustration!

Consecutive days.

Cai Jin focuses his time and energy on photolithography machines and photoresist.

Yesterday, after two upgrades, we have mastered the photoresist production technology and can produce various types of photoresist.

Semiconductor photoresist, PCB photoresist, LCD photoresist and other photoresists are all conquered.

Today, lithography machines are almost ready for upgrade.

Put your hands on the lithography machine.

[Item: Mid-to-low-end lithography machine]

[Experience value: 500000/500000 (can be upgraded)]

[Optimization points: 260]

"Upgrade!" Cai Jin chose to upgrade without hesitation.

Uh-huh!

A glimmer of light flickered.

Immediately, this photolithography machine underwent obvious changes, even its appearance was changing.

[Item: Mid-range lithography machine]

[Experience value: 0/1000000]

[Optimization points: 260]

At the same time, Cai Jin also got to know this mid-range lithography machine.

Lasers, beam straighteners, energy controllers, beam shape settings, shutters, energy detectors, and masks have all reached the most advanced technological level in the country.

In addition, the motion control accuracy of the mask stage reaches the nanometer level, and the objective lens, measuring stage, exposure stage, internal closed frame, shock absorber, etc. are also the most advanced products in the country.

The light source of the lithography machine is no longer the previous deep ultraviolet light, but has become 13.5nm soft X-rays, which is extreme ultraviolet light.

The most important thing is that it directly realizes the production and manufacturing of 60nm chips!

And you need to know that there are no more than three companies in China that can produce 60nm chips, and all of them are technologies that have only just made breakthroughs in the second half of 2018, and they are still in the laboratory!

Now, it can be considered a small-scale moderate mass production at best.

But now, he has a photolithography machine that can mass-produce 60nm chips.

Such a photolithography machine can produce hundreds of 12-inch wafers!

It can be said that this is a breakthrough, an amazing breakthrough. If what happened here were announced, it would be enough to shock the whole of China, and even the capital city would be alarmed!

After all, in the field of lithography machines, China is really too weak, so weak that even ordinary people know about it, so many years ago, lithography machines have been wearing various titles.

Just like the areas where China has not made breakthroughs in the past!

However, this is not Cai Jin’s goal!

If it stops here, it will be barely adequate at best, not advanced!

He wants to develop a top-end lithography machine that is more advanced than ASML's High-NA EUA lithography machine.

The minimum industrial node of High-NA EUA lithography machine has reached 22nm~7nm, and his goal is 22nm~1nm!

Then, sell all types of photolithography machines at cabbage prices to kill these aloof giants!

Anyway, the lithography machine he develops will be much cheaper than the lithography machines produced by these giants!

Even if the price of Cai Jin's lithography machine is much lower than the cost of producing lithography machines by these giants, it is completely acceptable.

After all, he doesn’t make money from photolithography machines and photoresists. What he really makes money from are bionic robots and all-solid-state lithium batteries!

This is the biggest difference between him and those photolithography machine and photoresist giants. Those giants rely on this unique art to make a living. Their employees receive high wages, work four or five hours a day, and can still drink coffee leisurely. Without this unique skill, they will have hard times, and their profits will definitely be greatly diluted, and they may even suffer more losses as they produce more.

The giants who have long been accustomed to pampering themselves, I am afraid that facing this situation will be more uncomfortable for them than killing them. Especially the bosses and shareholders, looking at the stocks that were originally worth as much as gold, have become like waste paper. Come to think of it. You will be extremely crazy, angry but helpless!

This is the scene Cai Jin wants to see.

There is nothing more heart-wrenching than this!