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Merck establishes mass production for molybdenum-based precursors in Korea for 9th-gen NAND
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 02:04 AM
Merck has established a mass production line in South Korea for molybdenum-based precursors. These materials are intended to replace tungsten in semiconductor deposition processes. Samsung and SK Hynix are projected to integrate these precursors starting with their 9th-generation NAND production, with potential future adoption in DRAM and foundry processes.
Context
Merck KGaA has established a mass production line in South Korea for molybdenum-based precursors, a critical next-generation material for semiconductor manufacturing. This move localizes the supply chain for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, as molybdenum begins to replace traditional tungsten in the chemical vapor deposition process. The material offers significantly lower resistivity and better scaling properties, which are essential as chip architectures become more densely packed and vertically complex.
The transition is set to accelerate with 9th-Generation NAND flash memory, where both Samsung and SK Hynix will integrate the material to maintain electrical performance in stacks exceeding 290 layers. Beyond memory, the industry expects molybdenum application to expand into advanced DRAM and logic foundry processes by 2025 and 2026. This domestic production capability is a key component of Merck KGaA’s broader 600 million Euro investment strategy in the region, aimed at capturing the high-volume demand generated by the AI-driven hardware boom.
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