Showa Denko has demonstrated that it is possible to dramatically speed up the time required to search for optimal formulations of semiconductor materials, from several decades to several tens of seconds, using quantum computing technology.

Silicon carbide epitaxial wafers (SiC epi-wafers), the main material for power semiconductors, with a diameter of six inches (150mm) and manufactured by Showa Denko have been adopted by DENSO for their latest booster power modules for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Showa Denko has developed a second generation high-grade silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxial wafer (HGE-2G) suitable for power semiconductors. SDK has been mass-producing the first generation of high grade SiC epitaxial wafer with very low defect density under the trade name of 'High-Grade Epi' (HGE). HGE-2G achieves further improvements in quality with six inches (150mm) diameter.

It has been announced that Showa Denko and Cinnamon will jointly develop a database system equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to register technical documents. This development program has been accredited as a project to be subsidised by the New Energy and Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) as a part of NEDO's ‘Program to Support Joint Development of AI Systems’.

Showa Denko has expanded its capacity to produce high-purity hydrogen bromide (HBr), which is used in the manufacture of semiconductors, and started operation of the expanded HBr plant. High-purity HBr is a specialty gas mainly used for fine-etching of polysilicon in the manufacturing processes of semiconductors including DRAMs and NAND flash memories.

To improve electrical conductivity, Showa Denko (SDK) has decided to expand production capacity for Vapour Grown Carbon Fibre (VGCF): carbon nanofiber added to cathodes and anodes of Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs). Specifically, SDK will gradually increase its VGCF(TM) production capacity at Kawasaki Plant, Kanagawa Prefecture, from 200 at present to 300t/y by the end of 2017, to meet growing demand for large LIBs used in cars.

Denko (SDK) announces that its HD media has been adopted in helium filled 10 terabyte hard disk drives (HDDs).

Showa Denko (SDK) has developed a new grade of SiC epitaxial wafers for power devices with very low defect density. This month, SDK will start commercial shipments of the recent grade, in 4 and 6" in diameter, under the trade name of 'High-Grade Epi' (HGE). When compared with the mainstream Si-based semiconductors, SiC-based power devices can operate under high temperature, voltage and current conditions, while substantially reducing energy loss.