Semiconductor Industry
Semiconductor manufacturing processes use a variety of high global warming potential (GWP) fluorinated compounds. EPA has supported the semiconductor industry's voluntary efforts to reduce high GWP greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The EPA and the semiconductor industry worked together from 1996 to 2010 through the PFC Reduction Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry to identify a variety of technologies that reduce GHG emissions and improve production efficiencies. EPA continues to track facility specific emissions from the semiconductor industry through the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Subpart I. A summary of this industry, emission sources and key resources developed during the Partnership are archived below.
- Emission sources
- Mitigation options
- Partnership publications
- Relevant links
- Frequent Questions about the Semiconductor Industry
Emissions Sources
Semiconductor manufacturers use a variety of high GWP gases to create intricate circuitry patterns upon silicon wafers and to rapidly clean chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tool chambers. Semiconductor manufacturing processes use high GWP fluorinated compounds including perfluorocarbons (e.g., CF4, C2F6, C3F8 and c-C4F8), hydrofluorocarbons (CHF3, CH3F and CH2F2), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Semiconductor manufacturing processes also use fluorinated heat transfer fluids and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Although the use of fluorinated GHGs did not begin until the late 1980s, their application facilitated the development of significantly more complex and faster processing semiconductors. The continued availability and use of these gases is considered to be critical to the future success of the industry.
Estimating fluorinated GHG emissions from semiconductor manufacture is complicated and has required a significant and coordinated effort by the industry and governments. It was historically assumed that the majority of these chemicals were consumed or transformed in the manufacturing process. It is now known that under normal operating conditions, anywhere between 10 to 80 percent of the fluorinated GHGs pass through the manufacturing tool chambers unreacted and are released into the air.
In addition, fluorinated GHG emissions vary depending on a number of factors, including gas used, type/brand of equipment used, company-specific process parameters, number of fluorinated GHG-using steps in a production process, generation of fluorinated GHG by-product chemicals, and whether appropriate abatement equipment has been installed. Companies’ product types, manufacturing processes and emissions also vary widely across semiconductor fabs.
Mitigation Options
Many companies in the semiconductor manufacturing have successfully identified, evaluated and implemented a variety of technologies that protect the climate and improved production efficiencies. Solutions have been investigated and successfully implemented in the following key technological areas:
- Process improvements/source reduction
- Alternative chemicals
- Destruction technologies
Partnership Publications
- 2010: EPA's Protocol for Measuring Destruction or Removal Efficiency (DRE) of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Abatement Equipment in Electronics Manufacturing (pdf)
- 2008: Developing a Reliable Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Destruction or Removal Efficiency Measurement Method
- 2006: Uses and Air Emissions of Liquid PFC Heat Transfer Fluids from the Electronics Sector (pdf)
- 2005: Reduction of Perfluorocompound (PFC) Emissions: 2005 State-of-the-Technology Report (pdf)
Relevant Links
- Resources for reporters to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP): Subpart I – Electronics Manufacturing
- Emissions data and trends from the GHGRP electronics manufacturing sector
- U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association
- Global Electronics Council EPEAT ecolabel product registry
- Design for the Environment Program: Alternatives Assessments
- History of U.S. EPA Safer Choice including lifecycle assessments for desktop computer displays and lead-free solder in electronics
- Printed Wiring Board Partnership
about the Semiconductor Industry
How do semiconductor manufacturers use fluorinated GHGs?
Fluorinated GHGs are used for both etching intricate circuitry features on silicon wafers and for cleaning chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tool chambers. Fluorinated GHGs are energized and dissociated in plasmas to provide reactive fluorine atoms in the manufacturing tool chambers. In the case of plasma etching, the free fluorine atoms selectively react with and remove insulating and/or conductive materials from the exposed surface of a silicon wafer to create the intricate circuitry patterns found on modern semiconductors. In CVD tool chamber cleaning applications, the fluorine atoms react with and remove excess materials from the surface of the tool chambers themselves.
Semiconductor manufacturers also use fluorinated heat transfer fluids and nitrous oxide. Fluorinated heat transfer fluids are used to cool process equipment, control temperature during device testing, clean substrate surfaces and other parts, and for soldering. Nitrous oxide is used for CVD and other manufacturing processes such as chamber cleaning.
Can fluorinated GHG emissions from semiconductor manufacturing be reduced?
Yes, fluorinated GHG emissions from semiconductor manufacturing can be reduced. Companies in the industry have implemented a variety of emission reduction strategies, such as optimizing (i.e., fine tuning) their production processes to use and emit fewer fluorinated GHGs and switching to alternative input gases (for example, NF3), which are utilized more efficiently in the process, thereby emitting fewer fluorinated GHGs into the exhaust stream.