Major announcement from this LED manufacturer!
旭化成公司Crystal IS近日宣布，根据UVC LED的当前要求，成功批量生产直径为100毫米、可用面积为99%的单晶氮化铝（AlN）基板，并将在美国进行生产。AlN的超宽带隙和高导热性不仅有助于提高UVC LED的器件可靠性和性能，还有助于提高下一代RF和功率器件的可靠性和性能。
Crystal IS总裁兼首席执行官Eoin Connolly表示：“在过去九个月里，我们大直径衬底质量的提高展示了我们团队在Crystal Growth方面的专业知识。氮化铝固有的热效益可以在关键任务和电信应用中实现更高性能的RF和功率设备——我们很高兴能与合作伙伴合作，进一步开发这种材料，以满足他们的需求。”
Left: In Q1 2024, the available area of Crystal IS's 100mm aluminum nitride substrate was 90%; Right: In Q2 2024, the available area of the aluminum nitride substrate was 99.3%.
This achievement comes after the company announced its first recorded 100mm diameter product in August 2023, which won the Grand Prize in the Semiconductor Electronic Materials category at the 2024 Annual Semiconductor Awards. The Annual Semiconductor Awards are organized by Sangyo Times Co., Ltd., publisher of the industry magazine 'Electronic Equipment News' in Tokyo.
Crystal IS manufactures large single-crystal AlN substrates at its headquarters in Green Island, New York, and began selling 2-inch diameter substrates for RF and power device R&D in late 2023. This 100mm diameter milestone accelerates the development of new applications on AlN substrates as it integrates into existing manufacturing lines for RF and power devices using alternative materials. The company plans to provide 100mm diameter substrates to key partners this year; these substrates will be produced exclusively at its US facility as it continues to expand beyond UVC LEDs.
About Crystal IS
Crystal IS is a leader in aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates and UVC LEDs. Crystal IS's AlN-based UVC LEDs offer superior performance in the ideal germicidal range of 260–270 nm, enabling sustainable mercury-free disinfection of water, air, and surfaces to ensure healthy lives worldwide. The company was founded in 1997 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York () and was later acquired in 2011 by Asahi Kasei, a global materials and chemical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In 2023, Crystal IS reported the world's first 100mm diameter single-crystal AlN substrate and is exploring new market applications for this material.
Recently, Asahi Kasei announced its fiscal year 2023 sales figures. Facing challenges from global economic uncertainty, fiscal year 2023 sales reached 2.7849 trillion yen, showing a growth trend; operating profit was 140.7 billion yen, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.2%.
Due to factors such as reduced one-time license revenue and the new acquisition of Bionova, the pharmaceutical/medical business incurred a slight loss. However, with changes in LifeVest™ insurance reimbursement and increased defibrillator prices, component procurement challenges have been improved, leading to higher AED sales. Overall sales and profits show an upward trend.
In fiscal year 2023, the total assets of the Asahi Kasei Group increased by 208.8 billion yen compared to the previous year, reaching 3.6627 trillion yen. Cash flow from operating activities was 295.3 billion yen, cash flow used for investing activities was 142.6 billion yen, and free cash flow (sum of operating and investing cash flows) was 152.7 billion yen.
Material translated from the official website