01/12 inch breakthrough: ushering in the "large-size era" of silicon carbide substrates. As the cornerstone of third-generation semiconductors, the size and quality of silicon carbide substrates directly determine the performance limit and cost space of the industry chain - the larger the size, the more chip output per wafer, and the more significant the cost reduction and efficiency improvement.

For a long time, the preparation of high-quality and large-sized silicon carbide substrates has been monopolized by a few international giants, with extremely high technical barriers: from controlling crystal growth temperature, to upgrading and iterating slicing processes, to controlling defects and other key links, every step is a bottleneck problem. The breakthrough of a 12 inch substrate is not simply a matter of size enlargement. Behind it lies Tianyue's advanced R&D team, which starts with fundamental theoretical research in materials science, thermodynamics, dynamics, simulation, and adopts a research and development concept that combines science and engineering. They have achieved breakthroughs in core links such as material crystal growth, defect control, and processing technology, overcome world-class challenges such as large-scale production, and have reached an international leading level in material performance. Zong Yanmin emphasized the key point in the interview: "We refine the complex preparation process and are not eager to pursue engineering results, but insist on starting from the source." This "slow variable" thinking has driven Tianyue to achieve breakthroughs in key links such as raw material purification, crystal growth, and processing technology. At present, Tianyue Advanced has entered the top five global silicon carbide substrate patent holders, among which 12 inch silicon carbide substrates and 8-inch silicon carbide substrates prepared by liquid-phase method are internationally pioneering, possessing the strength to compete with top global enterprises. In terms of automotive grade substrates, Tianyue Advanced has also been verified by international leading enterprises, becoming one of the few companies in the world that can provide stable bulk supply. 02/Breaking the "Island": Building an Autonomous and Controllable Industrial Ecosystem. Technological breakthroughs are just the starting point. How to transform individual advantages into overall competitiveness of the industrial chain? The answer given by Zong Yanmin is' breaking the isolated island and promoting collaborative coexistence '. The semiconductor industry has a long and complex industrial chain, including equipment and raw material supply, chip design, manufacturing, packaging and testing, applications, and other links, involving hundreds or thousands of technology companies worldwide. Semiconductors are not something that a single enterprise can do well. Equipment, materials, and processes must bite like gears, "said Zong Yanmin frankly. The key to breaking through technological barriers lies in breaking the" island effect "of each link in the industry chain. With the continuous maturity of new technologies such as resistance heating, AI temperature control, and laser peeling, as well as the collaborative efforts of the entire industry chain, the "bottleneck" problem has been overcome one by one through the full chain collaborative innovation of "materials equipment process". Tianyue Advanced has opened up the path of large-scale application of silicon carbide technology. In the advanced Jinan factory workshop of Tianyue, a self-designed long crystal furnace is operating - this is their "secret weapon" customized in collaboration with equipment manufacturers. Key equipment is no longer dependent on imports. We will find manufacturers to cooperate with ourselves and keep the core parameters in our hands, "Zong Yanmin emphasized. Not only that, the entire production process from raw materials to crystal growth, processing, characterization and other technologies are completely independent and controllable, and every step is polished in cooperation with upstream and downstream enterprises.

Zong Yanmin used an 8-inch substrate as an example to illustrate its industrial value: it was the first breakthrough in substrate materials that allowed downstream companies to develop large-size wafer processes and plan production lines. With the continuous improvement of production capacity and quality of 8-inch substrates, the entire industry chain is upgrading towards larger sizes, lower costs, and higher production efficiency.
Nowadays, Tianyue Advanced has launched a full product series of 12 inches, with a significant increase of about 2.25 times in the available area of a single wafer compared to 8-inch products. The chip output has increased by more than 2 times, edge loss has been reduced, and the number of chips produced has increased by nearly 90%. These new breakthroughs directly determine the performance, cost, and reliability of downstream chips.
The combination of technological leadership and stable delivery has solidified Tianyue's advanced core advantages and technological barriers. To serve over 50% of overseas customers, Tianyue Advanced is planning its overseas production capacity layout - not simply replicating production capacity, but localizing "research and development+service". Globalization is not about moving factories abroad, but about globalizing technological innovation and service capabilities, which is also in line with the development needs of the entire semiconductor industry, "said Zong Yanmin.
03/Cross border Material Innovation: From "Passive Response" to "Active Demand Creation"
The value of technology lies in leading applications and creating demand. In Zong Yanmin's view, excellent materials should not only have top-notch performance, but also the ability to define future needs.
The explosive demand in the fields of new energy vehicles, photovoltaic energy storage, and ultra-high voltage transmission and transformation is driving Tianyue to accelerate its production capacity increase. The production bases in Jinan and Shanghai have been put into operation successively, leveraging the financing power of the "A+H" dual listing to expand production capacity and conduct technological research and development.
Zong Yanmin has a broader strategic vision. "We have two cutting-edge application areas, one is new energy, and the other is the latest optical applications, both of which are huge markets." At the Tianyue Advanced AR Glasses R&D Laboratory, we are increasing our research and development investment in strategic directions such as optical products.
Traditional AR glasses are limited by the high cost of carbon fiber materials and have long been confined to the high-end niche market. Silicon carbide has a refractive index of 2.6, is lightweight, and has good thermal conductivity, making it an ideal material for AR glasses. ”Zong Yanmin revealed that Tianyue is collaborating with top international companies to develop AR glasses, aiming to shift from high-end luxury to mass consumption by improving yield and reducing costs.
It's not that we do what the market needs, but that our materials can make demand possible. This transformation from "passive response" to "active creation" not only expands the product structure of Tianyue Advanced, but also lays a solid material foundation for the development of strategic emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, ultra-high voltage transmission, 5G/6G communication, and data centers. It makes it possible to manufacture more efficient, smaller, and more energy-efficient power electronic devices, directly contributing to the energy revolution and digital transformation.
At present, Tianyue's product structure has expanded from a single substrate to a diversified matrix covering power electronics, RF communication, and optical applications. By 2024, its global market share has reached 22.8%, an increase of 10 percentage points from 2023, ranking among the top international players.
Thanks to years of basic research and global layout, we have entered 'no man's land' in some fields and are at the forefront of the world, "said Zong Yanmin." Bottlenecks always exist, but technology knows no bounds, and the path of semiconductors still needs to be taken step by step steadily
From the Jinan factory to the global market, Tianyue's advanced 15 year growth path is a microcosm of the rise of China's third-generation semiconductor industry, and a vivid practice of Shandong enterprises driving high-quality development with technological innovation. It is writing a solid "Shandong footnote" for high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement.