The world of chemicals is undergoing a massive shift, and it’s not just about new formulas or innovative products. Major chemical companies are making bold moves, divesting their material businesses and reshaping the industry landscape. What’s driving this trend, and what does it mean for the future of chemicals?
A Changing Landscape:
The chemical industry is facing a perfect storm of challenges: declining profitability, fierce global competition, and a growing focus on sustainability. These factors are pushing major players to re-evaluate their strategies and make tough decisions. One of the most significant trends is the divestiture of material businesses, a move that’s shaking up the industry and raising questions about the future of chemicals.
The Great Divestment:
From ADNOC’s acquisition of 69.94% of CTCI to BASF’s sale of its nylon business and Dow’s divestiture of its composite materials business, major chemical companies are shedding assets and focusing on core competencies. These moves are driven by a desire to streamline operations, improve profitability, and invest in areas with higher growth potential.
A New Era of Focus:
The divestiture trend reflects a shift in the chemical industry’s priorities. Companies are moving away from traditional commodity materials and focusing on:
- Technological Innovation: Investing in research and development to create innovative products and processes.
- Sustainable Development: Developing environmentally friendly products and processes that minimize their impact on the environment.
- High Value-Added Products: Focusing on specialty chemicals and high-performance materials that command premium prices.
The Middle East’s Rise:
The divestiture trend is also being fueled by the growing influence of Middle Eastern countries in the global energy and chemical markets. ADNOC’s acquisition of CTCI is a prime example of this shift, demonstrating the Middle East’s increasing investment in strategic assets and its ambition to become a major player in the global chemical industry.
A New Era for Chemicals
The divestiture wave in the chemical industry is a sign of the times, reflecting a shift towards innovation, sustainability, and high-value products. This trend is reshaping the industry landscape, creating new opportunities for growth and innovation. As major players refocus their strategies, the future of chemicals looks bright, driven by a commitment to sustainability and a quest for cutting-edge solutions.
December 6, ADNOC successfully acquired 69.94% of Covestro! The impact of this transaction is no less than that of SABIC’s acquisition of GE’s plastics business in the United States in 2007. The transaction amount reached 12.87 billion euros, setting a new high for global materials company acquisitions. It means that Europe and the United States are moving away from what they consider “unprofitable” materials businesses.
1. Chemical giant starts splitting and selling model
Let’s start with the conclusion: Except for BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, which still sticks to the engineering plastics business, other chemical giants have launched splitting and selling models in recent years.
The following is information on chemical giants listed by Plastic Vision that have split or are selling their materials business:
Covestro
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has made an offer of 62 euros per share to German plastics and chemicals manufacturer Covestro to acquire all its shares. Covestro’s valuation has also reached 11.7 billion euros (approximately RMB 91.13 billion yuan).
Dow Chemical
Dow Chemical announced on December 2 that it had completed the sale of its flexible packaging composite adhesive business to French specialty chemicals manufacturer Arkema for approximately US$150 million. Dow will sell five manufacturing sites in Italy, the United States and Mexico, including its solvent-based laminating adhesives, solvent-free laminating adhesives and heat-seal coatings product lines. At the same time, Dow retains businesses such as water-based composite adhesives and acrylic adhesives, which remain core to its growth and sustainability strategy.
Ineos
On December 2, INEOS announced that it had reached an agreement with KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) to sell INEOS’ composite materials business to KPS for a transaction consideration of 1.7 billion euros. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and a consultation process. KPS manages approximately $21.4 billion in investment funds, and the firm has a strong track record of acquiring and investing in manufacturing and industrial companies across a variety of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer products, healthcare and luxury goods, automotive parts, and capital equipment and general manufacturing.
Ineos’ composite materials business mainly includes unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gel coatings. It has approximately 900 employees in 17 manufacturing bases and 3 technology centers in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East. INEOS Composites’ annual revenue exceeds 800 million euros.
Honeywell
On November 22, American industrial giant Honeywell once again announced a business divestiture plan to sell its personal protective equipment business. PIP will acquire this business for US$1.33 billion (approximately 9.6 billion yuan) in cash. PIP is part of private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners.
Honeywell’s personal protective equipment business provides industrial workers with a variety of protective equipment, including protective gloves, face shields and eye protection. It has approximately 5,000 employees, 20 manufacturing sites and 17 distribution sites worldwide.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of next year. The divestiture also marks Honeywell’s complete exit from the personal protective equipment business.
LANXESS
Specialty chemicals company LANXESS signed a contract on October 3 to sell its polyurethane systems business to Japan’s Ube Kosan Co., Ltd. The enterprise value reaches 460 million euros and the expected revenue is approximately 500 million euros. With this transaction, LANXESS exits its last remaining polymer business. It is understood that the polyurethane system business has 5 production bases around the world and application laboratories in the United States, Europe and China. Ube Kosan will take over all operations of LANXESS, with a total number of employees of approximately 400. The Polyurethane Systems business generated sales of approximately €250 million in the twelve months to June 2024.
In 2022, LANXESS has spun off its High Performance Materials Business Unit (HPM) into an independent company (Enhuali). HPM is one of the leading suppliers of high-performance plastics. This business segment will mainly include high-performance materials such as nylon, PBT, and thermoplastic fiber composites. These materials are mainly used in automobiles, consumer electronics and other fields. In particular, new energy vehicles are a promising application field for LANXESS and are mainly used in car bodies, battery casings and charging infrastructure.
Evonik
German specialty chemicals giant Evonik announced on October 11 that its two major businesses, coatings and adhesive resins and medical care, will undergo large-scale restructuring, and businesses outside the core areas will be sold or shut down. Evonik said it is reorganizing the two business lines to strengthen its growth prospects. Future investments in the two major businesses of coatings and adhesive resins and healthcare will focus on and concentrate on their respective core businesses. Non-core businesses will be sold, merged into cooperative ventures or shut down. Affected businesses have a total sales volume of approximately 350 million euros.
Among them, Evonik plans to transfer the existing polyolefin business of this business line (sales of approximately 100 million euros) to Evonik’s C4 business, which will be sold as part of the C4 business in the future.
Evonik plans to sell its polyester business for coatings and adhesive applications to new owners. The business has approximately 330 employees worldwide, including the largest factory in Witten, Germany, with approximately 250 employees, and a small factory in Shanghai with approximately 30 employees.
On March 4, 2024, Evonik’s official website announced that it had signed a relevant agreement to sell the super absorbent resin (SAP) business to ICIG (International Chemical Investment Group). The sale price is several hundred million euros (the exact amount was not disclosed). The transfer is ultimately scheduled to be completed in mid-2024. The divestiture of this business began in May 2022. Evonik announced that it would divest all business lines of the functional materials business unit, including super absorbent resins, functional solutions and functional intermediates.
Dupont
In August 2024, DuPont (NYSE: DD) announced that it had reached a final agreement to sell 80.1% of the ownership interest in the Delrin® homopolyoxymethylene (H-POM) business to TJC LP (hereinafter referred to as TJC). The valuation is US$1.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close around the end of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Upon completion of the transaction, DuPont will receive approximately $1.25 billion in pre-tax cash proceeds (adjusted for customary transactions), $350 million in notes receivable, and will own a 19.9% non-controlling common stock interest in the Delrin business.
In recent years, DuPont has made frequent moves in business restructuring, acquiring or divesting some important assets. For example, in 2022, DuPont sold most of DuPont Transportation and Materials Division (M&M) to Celanese, a global chemical and specialty materials company, for US$11 billion in cash. Through this transaction, Celanese will gain access to a broad portfolio of engineered thermoplastics and elastomers, industry-leading brands and intellectual property, as well as manufacturing assets located around the world and a world-class organizational structure.
SABIC
In December 2022, Rohm signed an acquisition agreement with SABIC to acquire SABIC’s PC film sheet business. Subject to approval by relevant regulatory authorities, the divestiture of ROHM’s acrylic products business and SABIC PC film sheet business is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.
It is understood that ROHM’s acrylic products business unit will merge with the polycarbonate (PC) film sheet business unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) to establish POLYVANTIS, a world-leading acrylic and PC film sheet company, providing films, sheets, pipes and Rods and other products serve multiple market segments such as construction, transportation and aviation, electronics and electrical, automobiles, home and gardening. POLYVANTIS has 16 production bases and 1,500 employees in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, and global sales are expected to reach approximately US$700 million.
Trinseo
Trinseo was spun off from Dow Chemical in 2010 and went public in 2014. Its main products are polymer products, latex and specialty materials.
Due to high production costs and fierce global competition, Trinseo will gradually integrate existing businesses starting in 2023, such as stopping the operation of the ethylstyrene styrene monomer (EBSM) plant in the Netherlands in October 2023 and closing three PMMA plants. The plate company has sold a 50% stake in Americas Styrenics LLC (“AmSty”), a joint venture with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, and a series of other operations to reduce costs and increase efficiency, integrate business and choose new directions.
In November 2024, according to media reports, Trinseo has agreed to provide a polycarbonate (PC) technology license and all proprietary PC production equipment from its factory in Stade, Germany, to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deepak Nitrite for It is used in India. The deals advance Deepak Nitrite’s plans to expand beyond basic and specialty chemicals into engineering plastics. Trinseo announced the news on November 13, with the total value of the agreements being $52.5 million.
There are many similar cases. Due to space limitations, this article will not list them one by one.
2. What are the considerations behind selling a materials business?
From the cases listed above, it is not difficult to find that the traditional global chemical giants have a very consistent direction, and the plastics/materials business has been marginalized! In other words, leading companies are abandoning part of their materials business.
This trend reflects the challenges facing the traditional plastics business – a sharp decline in profitability.
Taking Covestro as an example, in the second quarter of 2024, although sales remained stable, Covestro’s EBITDA declined, with a net loss of 72 million euros and free operating cash flow of -147 million euros. This shows that in the global chemical industry, the traditional plastics business is no longer the main source of profit, but needs transformation and upgrading to adapt to new market demands and competitive environment.
Therefore, in the context of global economic integration and increasingly fierce market competition, it is not surprising that chemical giants are gradually shifting from traditional plastics business to more profitable areas, such as high value-added industries such as fine chemicals and biomedicine. .
The fine chemicals and biopharmaceutical sectors are favored because of their high technological content and high gross margins. These areas not only provide higher profit margins, but are also in line with global trends in sustainable development and health care. For example, Wanhua Chemical Company maintains its leading position in the field of polyurethane raw materials such as MDI and TDI through continuous capital expenditure and technological innovation. At the same time, it continues to extend the petrochemical industry chain and enhance sector synergy. In addition, the layout of new materials is also advancing steadily, such as citral, synthetic fragrances, ADI, biodegradable plastics, etc. These new projects will help Wanhua Chemical Company diversify its product categories, further improve the industry chain synergy, and platform new materials The leader’s future growth is promising.
To sum up, chemical giants have abandoned part of their materials business and instead focused on fine chemicals, biomedicine and other sectors. This is not only a response to the current market environment, but also an investment in future development trends. This strategic transformation helps companies achieve revenue diversification and market diversification, thereby maintaining a leading position in global competition.
3. Middle Eastern countries pursue diversified investment strategies
Covestro’s acquisition also reveals the Middle East’s strategy to seek diversified investments beyond the energy and petrochemical industries. Countries in the Middle East, especially oil-exporting countries, are gradually realizing the limitations of relying solely on oil exports and are beginning to explore diversified economic models to ensure sustainable development in the future.
Through the acquisition of Covestro, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will not only be able to quickly enhance its status and influence in the global chemical industry, but also further accelerate its transformation into an international energy company. This strategic transformation means that the “tycoons” in the Middle East are no longer limited to traditional oil sales or conventional petrochemical industries, but have begun to engage in a wider range of fields, including high-tech specialty chemicals and materials.
Achieving revenue diversification and market diversification is an important step for the future of investment in Middle Eastern countries. With the growing global demand for renewable energy and environmentally friendly materials, the Middle East is actively deploying in these fields with its strong capital and resource advantages. For example, by acquiring Covestro, ADNOC will have access to more advanced materials for electric vehicles, insulation materials and technical plastics. This will not only help Middle Eastern countries reduce their dependence on oil revenue, but also seize new growth opportunities in the context of growing global demand for chemical products.
In addition, the technological innovation capabilities in the Middle East are rapidly improving. Many internationally renowned technology companies have set up R&D centers in the Middle East to cooperate with local companies to jointly promote the development of technological innovation. This diversified investment strategy not only brings new opportunities for economic development to the Middle East, but also provides new investment channels for global investors. Through these investments, Middle Eastern countries are gradually transforming from “oil-selling upstarts” to “the world’s super energy giants” and playing an increasingly important role in the global energy transformation.
In the global chemical industry, divesting the plastics business has become a strategic choice for many chemical giants. What is reflected behind this phenomenon is fierce international competition and cost pressure. Especially in regions such as China and Southeast Asia, due to lower production costs and policy support, chemical companies in these countries have shown strong competitiveness in the field of plastic manufacturing, and Middle Eastern countries are also joining. In contrast, European and American chemical companies are at a disadvantage in terms of production costs. High labor costs, strict environmental regulations and rising energy costs make the cost of producing plastics in Europe much higher than that of Asian competitors. Therefore, it has become an inevitable choice for European and American chemical giants to divest their plastic business and invest resources and capital into more profitable and competitive fields, such as fine chemicals and biomedicine.
This also reflects the changes in the pattern of the global chemical industry. The rise of Asian chemical companies in the field of plastics manufacturing is reshaping the landscape of the global chemical industry. In the future, the chemical industry will inevitably pay more attention to technological innovation, sustainable development and the development of high value-added products.
As the pattern of global competition in science and technology and industry accelerates, the forward-looking assessment of cutting-edge and disruptive technologies and the planning and design of emerging and future industries have become the key to building new national competitive advantages. In the fields of cutting-edge science and technology and industrial transformation, such as brain-like intelligence, quantum information, gene technology, future network, “deep sea, air and space” development, hydrogen energy and energy storage, etc., we have organised and implemented the Future Industry Incubation and Acceleration Plan, and planned and laid out a number of future industries. In addition, we have launched and promoted the “Industry Renewal Action” and “Future Industry Launching Action”, focusing on 15 key industrial areas such as new generation mobile communication, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new materials, etc., to promote enterprises to accelerate the layout and development of emerging industries and future industries.
1. New materials for the development of emerging industries
1.1 Integrated circuit key materials
The development focus of country’s key integrated circuit materials industry is to fill the gaps in the domestic industry. It is necessary to increase efforts to make up for shortcomings and ensure the safety and stability of the supply chain of the integrated circuit manufacturing industry. The focus is on the development of various key materials covering advanced logic products at 130~90 nm and 90~28 nm technology nodes, complete sets of wafer manufacturing processes for advanced memory, and complete sets of advanced packaging processes, including 193 nm immersion photoresist and its accessories Anti-reflective materials and special reagents, precursor products for high-end logic processes and advanced storage, polishing fluids and polishing pads for high-end processes, special alloy targets and various materials for advanced packaging.
Vigorously improve the technological level of large-scale industries, increase product variety coverage, strengthen product quality, service, and supporting support capabilities, enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of the industry, and increase product market share; deploy and develop 20~14 nm, 14~7 nm and other The following technology generation logic products and advanced memory demand key products, laying the foundation for products to enter the high-end market. Strengthen the layout of fields related to transcending “Moore’s Law” and promote the development of unique process materials for carbon-based integrated circuits. Build a technologically advanced, safe and reliable industrial system in the field of key integrated circuit materials to play a supporting role in the integrated circuit industry.
1.2 Information function ceramic materials
The development of communication technology has put forward technical requirements for high-frequency broadband and ultra-low power consumption for new microwave filter devices, and proposed the structure and broadband design principles of micro-miniature filter devices, ultra-low power consumption implementation methods, and device processing and testing technologies. In order to meet new challenges, it is necessary to develop high-frequency and low-power design principles, integrated manufacturing and correction and fine-tuning technologies, and device testing and evaluation methods for new microwave dielectric filter devices.
Concentrate efforts on the development of low-, medium- and high-dielectric constant low-temperature co-fired ceramic dielectric materials with excellent dielectric properties suitable for the application of new generation passive integrated components; solve the problem of process matching of heterogeneous materials in device integration and stability under external fields, etc. Key common issues, obtain ways to optimize material structure-process – electrical performance – service characteristics, promote the preparation of low-cost, high-performance passive integrated devices with dielectric materials; for the application of new generation wireless communications and wearable electronic systems, explore independent Design, preparation and integration technology of new passive devices based on dielectric materials. Adopt a method that combines basic research on materials with application development, adhere to the integrated research route of materials-devices-processes, and encourage scientific research units and production enterprises to cooperate closely to carry out collaborative innovation research.
1.3 advanced energy materials
Issues such as green development and energy cost have become core issues in economic and social development. Energy strategy is closely related to various fields, industries, links and market entities. Focusing on different energy conversion and storage methods and principles, advanced energy materials need to focus on the development of fuel cell materials, thermoelectric materials, supercapacitor materials, solid lithium battery materials, biomass energy materials, optoelectronic materials and nano energy materials.
Accelerate the industrialization of new hydrogen fuel cell materials and components, further promote the industrialization process of bismuth antimonide thermoelectric material systems, and develop positive/negative hydrogen fuel cells with excellent comprehensive performance. Key materials for supercapacitors, such as negative electrode materials, functional electrolytes and separators, break through the problems of solid-state battery materials in conductivity, cost, mass production, etc., accelerate the industrialization of clean preparation and high-value utilization technology of biomass liquid fuel, and solve The problem of reduced conversion efficiency caused by the mass production of new photovoltaic materials has enabled the application of nanogenerators in important fields such as human-computer interaction, smart medical care, and bionic smart devices.
1.4 New display materials
With the goal of increasing the localization rate of display core materials, exploring new device structures, cultivating leading companies in new materials and information systems, realizing “changing lanes and overtaking” and leading the development of the industry, we will conquer a number of key materials and technologies that improve display performance.
Specifically include: development of organic light-emitting diodes/ Quantum dot light-emitting diode (OLED/QLED) printed display materials and devices, laser display materials and devices, micro-light emitting diode (MicroLED) display materials and devices, light field display materials and technology; overcome a number of portable mobile display problems, such as low power consumption and drive technology, next-generation mobile communication technology, and artificial intelligence system integration technology; overcome a number of large-scale manufacturing problems and research Flexible manufacturing technology; guided by the new generation of high visual dimension light field display needs, with the overall coordination and simultaneous development of materials, devices, modules, algorithms, and the entire machine chain as the research and development ideas, to promote industry-wide innovation; through the development of scientific Technical research, breakthroughs in core materials and key technologies of nano-light-emitting diode (NanoLED) displays, forming a first-mover advantage and seizing the commanding heights of future display technology and industry.
1.5 biomedical materials
With the rapid development of biomedical materials, some high-end biomaterials and medical device products continue to emerge in country. Country’s series of osteoinductive artificial bones represented by medical hydroxyapatite ceramic materials, hydroxyapatite coatings and hydroxyapatite nanomaterials with bone tumor and osteoporosis treatment functions are used for congenital heart disease and coronary artery disease. Bioabsorbable materials and devices for heart disease treatment, cardiovascular system repair based on recombinant humanized collagen, materials and device products for orthopedics, dentistry, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, etc., research and development of additive manufacturing materials and products, etc. Listed at the forefront of international development. Comprehensively promote the research and development and production of relevant materials, develop a series of medical products, establish a complete regulatory system, carry out clinical application technology research and development and clinical application promotion, maintain the technological leadership of country’s original innovative products and develop the international market, and seize the commanding heights of international standards. Promoting products to go international is the key to future development.
1.6 Bio-based materials
Bio-based materials have received widespread attention as an important component of emerging industries. At present, in the field of bio-based materials, country still faces many challenges in terms of raw materials, core technologies and industrial development, and is still in the “follow-up” stage compared with other advanced countries.
The biomaterials industry faces challenges such as insufficient basic key technologies and industrial competitiveness, insufficient industrialization of key or important products, and low market recognition. The focus of future development is to realize the biological production and application of basic chemical products using starch sugar as raw materials, and promote bio-based polyester, bio-based polyurethane, bio-based polyester amide, bio-nylon, bio-based epoxy resin, and bio-rubber , bio-based/material polymers, bio-based dielectric energy storage materials, bio-based material additives and other bio-based material industry chain, agglomeration, and large-scale development.
1.7 Advanced Structures and Composites
Guided by the country’s major needs, with the goal of conquering key core technologies, obtaining independent intellectual property rights and engineering applications, we will solve major scientific problems in material design and structural control, break through bottleneck technologies in the preparation and application of structures and composite materials, and realize advanced structures and composites. Material technology develops independently.
Develop new structural materials based on cross-scale and multi-dimensional structural control, high-performance polymers and their composite materials, high-temperature corrosion-resistant structural materials, lightweight and high-strength new materials, structural ceramics and their composite materials, major engineering structural materials, and additive manufacturing materials And achieved major technological breakthroughs, such as material microstructure control, super toughening, extreme preparation and service, etc. A number of common bottleneck technologies have reached the world’s advanced level; a world-class backbone new material R&D and industrial system for advanced structures and composite materials has been formed, and structural and composite material innovation capabilities have entered the forefront of the world; high-end structures and composite materials for major equipment can be independently developed Ensure that key core structural materials in strategically contested areas are independently controllable.
1.8 Rare earth materials
Closely focusing on national strategic needs, combined with application scenarios such as future intelligent robots, smart cities, deep space/deep sea development, big data, and human-computer interaction, we focus on research on key technologies for engineering and industrialization, and strive to make breakthroughs in rare earth permanent magnet materials and rare earth luminescence. Core preparation technology, intelligent production equipment, special testing instruments and application technology of advanced rare earth functional materials such as rare earth catalytic materials, rare earth crystal materials, high-purity rare earth metals and targets;
Through synchronous innovation across the entire industry chain, promote the promotion and implementation of advanced results, ensure the demand for key materials in strategic emerging industries, intelligent manufacturing, and ultimately achieve independent supply of rare earth functional materials for high-end applications; carry out cutting-edge basic theoretical and experimental research, and through scientific In-depth exploration and accumulation of issues, proposing more original theories and original discoveries, and obtaining a number of original results in new rare earth materials and new applications; realizing country’s strategic transformation from a major rare earth country to a powerful rare earth country, and leading the future development of rare earth science and technology and industry.
1.9 superconducting materials
Superconducting technology is a high-tech of strategic significance in the 21st century. It has important application value and application prospects in the fields of energy, medical care, transportation, scientific research and other fields. Through “industry-university-research-application” joint research, we will realize the upgrading of country’s low-temperature superconducting material industry, break through key technologies for batch preparation of high-temperature superconducting materials, develop superconducting electrical equipment for power, energy, and medical care, and realize superconducting materials, The coordinated development and large-scale application of superconducting high-voltage and superconducting weak-voltage products have generally reached the international advanced level, creating and forming strategic emerging industries based on superconducting materials and their application technologies.
2. New materials for future industrial layout
2.1 Atomic manufacturing technology
Atomic manufacturing technology is based on atomic level quantum physics, with atomic level functional units as the core, and is a manufacturing technology of materials and devices developed at the extreme level of matter. It will be used in logic, storage, sensing, superconductivity, catalysis, and storage. It has spawned major applications in fields such as energy and optoelectronics, and significantly promoted multidisciplinary integration and technological development. In the future, we will focus on the development of atomic primitive design and its material and device manufacturing, molecular primitive design and its microsystem assembly and manufacturing, primitive system and large-scale device manufacturing, precise control of atomic quantum states and its device manufacturing, and cutting-edge new theories of atomic manufacturing. with new concepts.
2.2 Silicon-based multi-material system integration
The important research direction of silicon-based integrated optoelectronic devices/modules is: building a hybrid integration process platform of silicon and advanced optoelectronic materials, giving full play to the ultra-large-scale and ultra-high-precision manufacturing characteristics of integrated circuit processes, and combining the advantages of optoelectronic properties of various materials to achieve Breakthrough in high-performance hybrid optoelectronic integrated chip preparation technology.
2.3 Carbon nanotube micro-nano electronic materials
Carbon nanotubes have high carrier mobility and can be used in the manufacture of radio frequency devices to increase the cutoff frequency and maximum oscillation frequency of radio frequency devices. They are expected to be used in coupling in space communications, high-speed radio links, vehicle radar and inter-chip communication applications. Nanooscillator.
The bending resistance of carbon nanotubes allows them to be used in the manufacture of flexible and transparent electronic devices, improving the performance of display devices. With the advancement of technology, the application scenarios of carbon-based semiconductors will become increasingly diversified. In the future, the application of carbon nanotube materials in the field of micro-nano electronics will also need to focus on issues such as carbon nanotube preparation, device stability, performance and integration, and establish the Carbon nanotube material standards, characterization methods, and process flows for electronic devices.
2.4 Ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials
Country’s ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials are in the cutting-edge research stage, and the preparation of high-quality, large-size substrate materials is the focus of recent technological breakthroughs; epitaxial materials grown based on high-quality substrates will become the basis for device preparation, conquering device preparation The technical difficulties of the process will provide the possibility for the wide application of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors. A series of problems such as the large band gap of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials, the difficulty of single crystal preparation, the difficulty of efficient doping, and the difficulty of device contact performance control have become obstacles to the application of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors and set the stage for the development of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors. brought significant challenges.
In the future, we need to focus on developing high-quality, large-size substrate material preparation capabilities, developing stable and efficient single crystal growth and processing technologies with independent intellectual property rights, and forming ultra-wide bandgap materials such as single crystal growth, defect control, and substrate processing technologies. Patent pool, reserve relevant technical talents, and break through the industrialization technology of large-size, high-performance single crystal substrates.
2.5 Metamaterials
Typical metamaterials such as left-handed materials, “invisibility cloaks”, perfect lenses, etc. have been applied in the fields of optics, communications, etc.; a variety of electromagnetic metamaterials, mechanical metamaterials, acoustic metamaterials, thermal metamaterials, and metamaterials based on conventional metamaterials New materials that combine materials have emerged one after another, forming an important growth point for new materials.
Facing future industrial development, optical metalens technology, metamaterial electromagnetic stealth technology, metamaterial antenna technology and metamaterial all-optical switching technology should also be deployed in advance to promote research on metamaterial shock absorption technology and its application in precision machinery and major projects. , developing new metamaterials for sonar, noise suppression and acoustic information technology, and new metamaterials for thermal energy utilization and conversion, thermal management and other fields.
2.6 Liquid metal
Basic research on the application of liquid metal has developed into a major scientific and technological frontier and hot spot that has attracted widespread international attention, bringing disruptive solutions and implementation methods to many industries, including energy, thermal control, electronic information, advanced manufacturing, and flexible intelligence. The development of technology in fields such as robotics and biomedical health has brought about changes.
In the future, this field also needs to focus on the development of functional materials such as liquid metal electronic slurries, liquid metal thermal interface materials, liquid metal phase change materials, liquid metal conductive adhesives, liquid metal magnetic fluids, liquid metal low-temperature solders; and the development of liquid metal tumor vascular embolization Preparations and treatment technologies , liquid metal nerve connection and repair technology, liquid metal high-resolution angiography, liquid metal exoskeleton technology and injection electronics, liquid metal skin electronics technology, alkali metal fluid tumor ablation treatment technology and other cutting-edge medical technologies, as well as a series of innovative medical devices product.
2.7 High entropy alloy
High-entropy alloys break the traditional alloy design concept based on mixing enthalpy, opening up a broad composition design space for the development of new materials. High-entropy alloys can be used in many key fields such as aviation and aerospace. It is of great strategic significance to develop and promote new high-entropy alloy materials with independent intellectual property rights. The focus of the development of high-entropy alloys includes lightweight high-entropy alloys, high-temperature-resistant refractory high-entropy alloys, corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys, radiation-resistant high-entropy alloys, biomedical high-entropy alloys, eutectic high-entropy alloys, and wear-resistant high-entropy alloys. Alloys, hydrogen storage high-entropy alloys, catalytic high-entropy alloys, soft magnetic high-entropy alloys, etc.
Carry out practical application verification for future application scenarios and key application directions with potential; develop special high-performance high-entropy alloys for service requirements under extreme environmental conditions such as aviation and aerospace; develop comprehensive performance under wide temperature range working conditions Excellent new equipment high-entropy alloy structural materials, achieving the international strategic leadership of high-entropy alloys.