intel hafnium as oxide silicon

Hafnium rarely became the hero of news, in the beginning of month scientific research consortium semiconductor research corporation declares about revolutionary success in the creation of insulators, which contain this metal. On available data, company intel and IBM they plan to use hafnium for creating the more rapid and energetically more effective microprocessors.
The oxide of hafnium will replace the oxide silicon utilized now. Thus, the element, which occupies in the chemical table in 72 position, must ensure breakthrough in the future generation of semiconductor devices. Producers expect to use it in the chips, which are encountered very widely â€“ from the cell phones to servers.

But how to use rare product for mass production?

Specialists consider that there is no occasion for the uneasiness. Mainly because the quantity of hafnium, utilized in one chip, is negligibly small.

(Jim mcGregor), the analyst of organization In -Stat, says: Even if we take entire hafnium, necessary for 300- mm plate, it it is not possible to see with the naked eye.

(Bernard meyerson), the chief technologist OF IBM, expressed situation even more descriptive: according to him, if we take one cubic centimeter of hafnium and to distribute over by the surface layer of this thickness, which is used in chips, will be covered the area, equal to 10 football fields. Moreover, this estimation is undertaken with the reserve to the worse side first, it is used not pure hafnium, but its oxide, in the second place, thickness of the layer in proportion to the perfection of technology will be constantly reduced.

Thus, the expenditure of hafnium is low. But as does proceed the matter from its outputs?

Yearly all countries, together, obtain about 50 tons of this substance. It is not encountered in the form it lived as gold or other metals, but it is obtained as product during the output of the dioxide of zirconium (zirconium - metal, sufficiently widespread in the territory USA, Brazil, Australia, Russia and China).

The proximity of atomic structures hafnium and zirconium makes the process of separation that being expensive. About 60-70% of obtained hafnium go to the production of the so-called graphite rods, utilized for control of reaction in nuclear reactor. The large part of remaining hafnium proceeds with the production of alloys, used in the aircraft engines. A question about a deficiency in hafnium thus far did not arise, and its output if necessary can be increased.

By others words, to fear, it seems, something. Taking into account that semiconductor branch expects to consume small volumes of material, and the volumes of its output can be increased, branch experts do not see reasons for the appearance of competition between the users of hafnium, at least, over the short term long term.

intel hafnium as oxide silicon

INTEL HAFNIUM AS OXIDE SILICON