Chapter 303 The 10-nanometer imprint machine is launched
Nanomaterials Laboratory
Xu Li, Li Mo, and Xu Hua divided the work and cooperated inside, and asked several researchers poached from Ziguang to work on the final technical research on the nanoimprint machine.
The nanoimprint machine is an important tool for suppressing and laying out the domestic semiconductor industry. Once developed, it will bypass those technical barriers and will not be suppressed by them.
Previously, manufacturing chips generally required a photolithography machine. If the nanoimprint machine comes out, there will be a second option.
The state will also give its full support. Even if the monopoly in this area is completely broken by then, these ugly-faced Western capital will kill the large market in the East.
After all, with a nanoimprint machine with better performance and fewer shortcomings, who would buy a photolithography machine?
At present, Xu Li and the three of them have solved the problems of materials and precision parts.
Originally, precision parts require special processing to complete the construction of a nanoimprint machine.
However, it is also expensive to import such precision parts from foreign countries, but fortunately, thanks to the above relationship, the pressure in this aspect is reduced.
"Principal, everything is ready now, do you want to conduct the test?"
Li Mo said solemnly.
Now the prototype of the nanoimprint machine has been developed, but the performance still needs to be tested. If the test is passed, it means that there is another method of manufacturing chips in the world.
"Start testing!"
Xu Li replied, at the same time, Xiao Xiaobai made every effort to strengthen the campus network defense, and also asked Xiao Hei to strengthen the relevant situation around the laboratory, and deal with any abnormal personnel immediately if any abnormalities are found.
Now is the most critical testing phase. You must not go and be interfered by anyone, otherwise all your previous efforts will be wasted!
"Everyone stops what they are doing. The test is about to begin. Please return to your posts and prepare for the operation!"
Then, Xu Li began to direct, and the researchers were both nervous and excited.
"Start testing!"
Soon, in the testing laboratory, the indicator light on a boxy-looking machine came on and it began to enter the preparation state.
"Start releasing materials and start tape-out."
The test phase is mainly to test whether the nanoimprint machine can operate normally and conduct trial production.
This time the tape-out mainly involves the tape-out of dozens of 10-nanometer RF chips. Originally, this nano-imprint machine was designed to use a 14-nanometer chip process, but Xu Li found that there was room for improvement, so he and Li Mo spent more time.
After some time, it was upgraded to a 10-nanometer process.
Since it can be upgraded to a ten-nanometer process, it is better to simply do it, so as to gain greater advantages.
Some time ago, Sansang Group launched a three-nanometer process chip, which shocked many people.
However, this three-nanometer process has moisture, it is actually 7nm, and the yield rate is also worrying.
The 7nm and 5nm announced by many chip manufacturers are actually just playing word and number games.
The naming of the toothpaste factory is accurate.
If we follow the reciprocal relationship, it should be like this: Sansang 4nm ≈ Taichi Semiconductor 7nm ≈ Toothpaste Factory 10nm.
If you are not an industry insider, it is easy to be misled by these manufacturers and the so-called self-media.
However, the naming of the nanoimprint machine developed by Xu Li is the same as that of the nanoimprinter used by the previous toothpaste factory.
Next, it depends on the transistor density of their 10nm chip.
The greater the transistor density, the larger the transistors that can be placed, which means the higher the integration performance.
But it is not easy to increase the transistor density.
Several specially made eight-inch silicon wafers go through the process of cleaning, drying, coating, polishing, and cleaning before they are officially sent to the nanoimprint machine.
After three hours, a batch of chips was finally produced.
These dozens of chips were carefully taken to the testing room by technicians for testing, and Xu Li and Li Mo quickly followed them.
A very intense testing work was put into the testing room, with a total of five people working together to test these chips.
Xu Li can see the chip data of successful and failed detections from the computer.
Unqualified chips are basically the same, while qualified chips are divided into three categories: high-quality products, good products, and qualified products.
From the computer data display, the failure rate is 5% and the pass rate is 95%.
One-quarter of them are excellent products, and the remaining three-quarters are good products.
Everyone present was shocked!
91% pass rate?
What is the probability?
Two-fifths of them are high-quality products, and the rest are good products?
This pass rate is already comparable to that of Tai Electromechanical.
And doesn’t this mean that the yield rate is also as high as 95%?
So scary~
"Principal, this..." Li Mo and Xu Hua's hands were trembling, and they seemed to be unable to contain their excitement.
Li Mo slowly looked at Xu Li: "Principal, did we succeed?"
Xu Li smiled lightly: "Well, we succeeded."
"Yeah! We succeeded!"
"We actually built a nanoimprint machine that is comparable to a photolithography machine!"
"That's great!"
A burst of cheers erupted in the laboratory.
No one expected that not only the nanoimprint machine was successfully tested, but the yield rate of the chips was also so high, which would give them their own chip production capabilities.
"Then principal, when will we announce this news to the public?" Li Mo asked.
If this news is announced, it will shock the country and even the world.
"No rush, we still need to settle down. I am about to start the next project. When the next research project is successful, I will announce the news together."
Xu Li waved his hand.
"What project is that?" Xu Hua came over curiously.
"Computer operating system." Xu Li replied.
Li Mo and Xu Hua were both stunned, and then looked at each other.
The difficulty of this implementation does not need to be as small as a photolithography machine!
But Xu Li still needs to develop the operating system first.
Because once the nanoimprinter is made public, counterattacks from the West will follow one after another, which will be a big trouble especially in terms of operating systems.
In a mature computer, the hardware system and software system complement each other.
If the operating system is missing, the computer cannot execute the corresponding instructions.
On the other hand, if those system giants block this road, it will be another dilemma, and they may fall into a passive situation of compromise.
Xu Li always emphasizes one-hit kill streak.
Since we have to face these challenges head-on, we must solve all the major problems.
This way it won’t hold back the rest of the process.
Li Mo also guessed it and stopped talking about this topic, so he asked:
"What will the principal do next?"
Xu Li thought for a while and said:
"I will ask Li Yuanlong to bring the news to the superiors about the successful development of the nanoimprint machine. I will also make some preparations and start laying out the next plan."
"You continue to work on key problems, try to improve the level of technology, and strive for the 5-nanometer process."
Li Mo nodded, and then sighed: "It's a pity that no matter how advanced the technology is, whether it is an imprinting machine or a lithography machine, it has corresponding limits and cannot solve the problems of quantum tunneling and leakage on both sides of the gate.
."
"There are advantages and disadvantages. Nothing in the world is perfect, and maybe one day we can break through Moore's Law." Xu Li smiled.
The three of them looked at each other and smiled.