Epistar Said That It Is Developing Eight-Inch Silicon Substrates for Producing LEDs

Epistar said that it is developing eight-inch silicon substrates for producing LEDs used in lighting applications, with mass production slated in 2014. Large-sized silicon substrates will help lower production costs and are estimated to be 1/10 the cost of sapphire substrates by 2015. The company said the new substrate technology will continue being developed through 2013 before going mass production in 2014. Using large-sized silicon substrates for production is expected to improve some deficiencies in LED epitaxy production as well. However, Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) said that Taiwan LED manufacturers need to improve yield rates for the substrates before mass production can occur. ITRI also said that Taiwan LED manufacturers cannot simply rely on LED lighting prices to drop in order to sustain and promote their LED business, but they also have to take into consideration how to lower production costs. Meanwhile, sources also pointed out that international LED manufacturers Cree and Osram have already began mass producing silicon substrates and Bridgelux is set to do the same in 2013 with a goal of decreasing production costs by 75%. Source: DIGITIMES