You say you have an iron will, are you serious?

Chapter 328: Get a photolithography machine?

Chip manufacturing process is a big problem!

For our country, manufacturing has been worse than buying for a long time. In addition, chip manufacturing capabilities have not fallen much for a long time, so there is a serious lack of research and development of supporting equipment.

Etching machines, photoresists, masks, photolithography machines...etc., all lack technological updates and iterations.

The etching machine has the existence of Zhongwei Company. Our country's current technical strength is on par with foreign countries. Even if it is a little weaker, it is not much weaker. There is no technological generation difference.

Masks and photoresists are different. The gap is too big.

In particular, photolithography machines are a top priority, and there is already a huge generation gap.

However, the lithography machine is not a mathematical or physical theory that can be solved on paper through thinking. It requires a systematic solution to a series of engineering problems in the entire supply chain. It doesn't make much sense to tell him.

Others don't sell the most advanced photolithography machines. Zhao Mo thinks to himself that he is just a human being with a physical body, so he can't transform?

"...ASML has officially delivered an EUV lithography machine. The model is called NXE:3100, with a numerical aperture of 0.25 and a dual workbench. The efficiency is nearly 20 times higher than that of the first-generation machine. Samsung, IMEC, Intel, Toshiba, Hynix, There is also TJD. Liu's company has obtained one each. Among them, Samsung and Intel are already debugging this device and it is said that it is about to succeed. But this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is TJD. They adopt the assembly method In a battle mode, it took only three months to complete debugging and produce 14nm process chips!”

Dr. Zhang Rujing was not surprised when he saw that Zhao Mo had no reaction, but quickly explained in detail.

IMEC, European Microelectronics Research Centre.

"14 nanometers?"

Zhao Mo's face was calm, but he was frowning secretly, thinking: "It's true that TJD can become the world's number one chip OEM."

In this life, because of his reasons, TJD did not do anything to Central International, so the development of Central International in the past few years has been much better than in the previous life. So far, it has solved the 45nm process and is moving towards 32nm. Although there is still a gap compared to TJD, TJD has achieved mass production of 32nm, but the difference is not big, and it is expected to catch up.

Unexpectedly, as soon as ASML's latest EUV lithography machine came out, TJD rushed hard and produced 14nm so quickly, skipping the 28nm node. This really surprised Zhao Mo again.

"Yes, 14nm!"

Zhang Rujing sighed and said: "The outside world doesn't know yet, but I received internal information, so I came here to find you as soon as possible."

Zhao Mo showed a look of helplessness on his face and replied: "Dr. Zhang, I don't have the ability to ask ASML to sell you the latest EUV lithography machine."

As soon as Zhang Rujing heard this, he knew that Zhao Mo wanted to help, so his solemn face immediately revealed a relaxed smile, and said: "Professor Zhao, you are a genius scientist. You can handle such powerful weapons as rocket engines. We also have extraordinary talents in chip manufacturing, so I wanted to ask you to help us see if we can develop our own EUV lithography machine. In this way, we will no longer have to be criticized by foreign people. ~”

Zhao Mo: "...you think too highly of me~"

It’s my fault that I’ve been too good over the years, right?

Zhang Rujing smiled and said: "You are too humble. Your achievements and scientific research capabilities are top-notch in the world. It is obvious to everyone. I am not putting a high hat on you, I am just telling the truth. "

"Cough cough~"

Zhao Mo coughed twice and did not answer him. Instead, he shook his head and said: "This is an industry-wide problem, not a matter of a single lithography machine. At this stage, the country will not support it. If It only relies on social capital, which requires large investment, slow results, and low output. I guess no one is willing to invest in it.”

This is a fact. Zhao Mo has seen it now, and he saw it with his own eyes in his previous life.

Just like in the previous life, the development of the entire semiconductor industry chain was due to helplessness and because the country was richer than this period. Therefore, the country took the lead and with a wave of its hand, hundreds of billions or trillions of capital poured in. After all efforts were made, many results were achieved, and later the mate60 was born.

At this time, the country has many problems and lacks strength.

More importantly, America has not yet taken desperate action, so the entire society has not formed a consensus that "the semiconductor industry must be independently developed."

The right time, the right location, and the right people are the three key factors for success.

Now we just have the right location, but the weather and the people are not there, so it is difficult to achieve anything.

If he had to go his own way, Zhao Mo didn't believe the result would be any better.

Zhang Rujing heard what he said and knew that he was going to refuse, so he quickly said: "Professor Zhao, our Center International fully supports it. I have talked with the Modu Microelectronics Company, the Modu Government, and Zhongwei Company." , they are also very supportive and have said that if you join, the probability of success of this project is very high."

He is really anxious!

He really put his hope in Zhao Mo! If Zhao Mo helped Zhongwei Company solve the problem of the reactive ion source, it made him realize the genius of Zhao Mo; the advanced packaging that Zhao Mo proposed for them made him realize the horror of Zhao Mo's genius; Then Zhao Mo developed a 21-ton high-thrust rocket engine, solved the mathematical ABC conjecture, took the twin prime conjecture a big step forward, and won the Fields Medal at the age of . These dazzling achievements made him start to believe in nothing. Zhao Mo was silent.

Among the countless geniuses and scientists from all over the world, who can do it?

none!

So, besides Zhao Mo, who else in our country can achieve the miracle of breaking foreign monopoly in the development of EUV lithography machines?

He believes there is no such thing!

Regardless of how awesome the EUV lithography machine is, or how many scientists from many countries worked together to create it, he believed that Zhao Mo could handle it with his terrifying genius and strength.

"Sorry, I probably won't have time within a year."

Zhao Mo just shook his head. He heard what Zhang Rujing was thinking. He wanted him to take the lead in building an EUV lithography machine, but now was indeed not the time, and this was not the most important thing.

Zhang Rujing was immediately disappointed, and then said with a heartbroken look: "Professor Zhao, semiconductors are slow one step at a time, step by step. If we don't take action as soon as possible now, we will be in trouble when TJD and Samsung advance their process capabilities to 10nm and 7nm. It’s hard to catch up, and you will be controlled by others when the time comes~”

Zhao Mo felt no emotion at all. This was true, but it wasn't that serious.

After thinking about it, Zhao Mo expressed his opinion: "Dr. Zhang, don't be too anxious. The process capabilities of semiconductors follow Moore's Law. Their process capabilities are indeed constantly advancing, but with each step forward, the process difficulty increases. All have doubled exponentially, and the funds invested have also doubled exponentially. This will, to a certain extent, extend the time between iterations of process capabilities. In addition, there is not much behind 14nm. I estimate that it will be reached by 5nm. Oh my god, we still have a chance to catch up later."

"5nm? There are 3nm, 2nm, and 1.5nm in the future, right?"

Zhang Rujing sighed.

Zhao Mo smiled and said: "It is true that there are 3nm and 2nm, but I don't think the significance is too great. Because the process is a process, and the application is an application. Most application fields do not need to use such a small process. 28nm is basically enough. That small part of applications that need to be applied to such a small process actually has marginal effects. I think 5nm is basically enough."

Zhang Rujing was startled again when he heard this. He came back to his senses and thought for a while, feeling that this might be the case in the future.

"So, can we catch up from behind?"

But soon, he still asked a question with some hesitation.

Zhao Mo nodded and continued: "Of course, this EUV lithography machine is man-made. They can make it, why can't we? We all have the same head and two shoulders, no one is worse than the other."

Although Zhang Rujing had some reservations about this, his unreasonable tension and anxiety when he came to the capital basically dissipated, and then he said with emotion: "Professor Zhao, after hearing what you said, I feel confident."

Zhao Mo smiled slightly and said: "However, some preparations can still be done first. Lay the foundation first. When the time comes later, we will take advantage of the trend."

Zhang Rujing's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said with surprise and joy: "Oh, Professor Zhao, it turns out you already have an idea! So, what are you going to do? Can I do something?"

"Cough cough~"

Zhao Mo was dumbfounded by his attitude, and quickly explained: "You don't have to do anything for the time being. It's some basic research work, and some of it is work in other fields I'm researching. After hearing what you said today, I feel There are some things in common, so I have some ideas~”

"Oh, that's it~"

Only then did Zhang Rujing calm down, but there was still an expression of wonder on his face, and he said to himself: "Sure enough, he is still so powerful. He came up with an idea in just a moment. It's so scary!"

The conversation between the two lasted for an hour and a half.

An hour and a half later, when the agreed end time came, Zhang Rujing stood up and left.

Compared with the anxiety when he came, he was full of confidence at this time. Finally, he walked back with a smile on his face and a breeze. Cai Bin saw that he passed by him and was about to come in to pack his things. He was confused and thought to himself. : "What kind of magic did the professor cast? He had a bad face when he came here, but now he is happy?"

"Cai Bin, help me prepare some information, I want to write a report~"

Zhao Mo also stood up. He explained to Cai Bin what information they needed, then left the office and went straight to the biology laboratory.

"Okay, Professor!"

Cai Bin responded quickly, but felt a little strange in his heart: "Collecting information on this year's 12th Five-Year Plan? Does the professor have any big projects that he wants to jump in?"

After a moment, he suddenly came to his senses and understood: "EUV lithography machine? Yes, that should be it!"

(End of this chapter)