SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS

SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- The Russian invasion is making the global chip shortage situation worse.

Concept-

Why is the Russian invasion impacting chip shortage?

• According to a report by Moody’s Analytics, Ukraine supplies rare gases used to produce semiconductor fab lasers, and
• Russia exports rare metals like palladium to make semiconductors.
• This combination is required to build chipsets that power a range of devices, from automobiles to smartphones.

Palladium:

• Palladium is often used as an alternative to gold in making various devices.
• Palladium metal is highly malleable and resistant to corrosion.
• The rare metal is considered to be softer than gold, but is still much harder and durable than the yellow metal.
• This quality of palladium gives it more protection against an impact and a greater resistance to denting.
• So, automobile makers, electronics manufacturers and biomedical device producers prefer the silvery­white metal.
• Russia and South Africa are the two largest producers of palladium.
• While platinum and rhodium could be substituted for palladium, Russia is also a leading producer of the other platinum group metals.
• Palladium is used in nearly all electronic devices, and the metal is a key to make chipsets and circuit boards.
• It is used to make multi­layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), which are important to make smartphone screens, stereo systems, and power circuit breakers.