The global market for thin film technologies (including equipment, materials and services) is currently valued at more than $50 billion and continues to grow.  On-going miniaturization in the semiconductor industry also impacts other sectors.  As a result, there is a continuous effort to create components and products that are smaller, thinner, lighter and also, for certain applications, flexible.  In addition, new developments in nanotechnology are also contributing to advances in materials and fabrication methods for producing very thin films, that is, those films below 30 nanometers or those with a thickness measured in atoms.  

There are various types of thin film materials (e.g., metals, alloys, oxides, non-oxides, metalorganics and metal salts).  These materials can be deposited by a variety of physical or chemical methods, and they find application in the fabrication process of numerous devices within several industrial sectors (including electronics, optoelectronics, mechanical/chemical, energy, optical coatings, life science and decorative coatings).

This report determines the current market status for thin film materials, defines trends and presents forecasts of growth over the next five years. The thin film material industry is also analyzed on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption.  In addition, technological issues, including the latest process developments and events, are discussed.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• The global market for thin film materials increased from $6.9 billion in 2009, to $8.4 billion in 2010, and to $9.3 billion in 2011. We project this market will reach $14.9 billion by 2016 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%.
• The chemical processes segment reached $4.6 billion in 2010 and $5.0 billion in 2011. It is expected to grow to $7.4 billion by 2016, a CAGR of 7.8%.
• Most thin film materials for the mechanical/chemical sector (39.0% of the total) are used in hard and superhard coatings for cutting tools and drills which were valued at $585 million in 2011.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 
    STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES   1
    REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY   1
    INTENDED AUDIENCE 2
    SCOPE OF REPORT  3
    METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES  4
    ANALYST CREDENTIALS  7
    DISCLAIMER   8

CHAPTER TWO: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY   9
  SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS,
    THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  10
  SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM
    MATERIALS, 2009­2016 ($ MILLIONS)   11

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW  12
     COATINGS AND FILMS 12
     THICK, THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS  12
     MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF THIN FILM TECHNOLOGY
        AND RECENT EVENTS   13
  TABLE 1 THIN FILM DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGICAL MILESTONES  14
  TABLE 1 (CONTINUED) 15
  FIGURE 1 THIN FILMS: WORLDWIDE PATENT APPLICATIONS AND
     PATENTS, 1971-2010  16
     APPLICATIONS FOR THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS  17
           ELECTRONICS 17
           OPTOELECTRONICS   17
           MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL   18
           ENERGY   18
           OPTICAL COATINGS   18
           LIFE SCIENCES AND OTHERS  18
  TABLE 2 APPLICATIONS OF THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS, 2011   19

CHAPTER FOUR: TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIALS FOR THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS 
     INTRODUCTION   20
     THIN FILM COATINGS  20
  TABLE 3 BASIC CONSTRUCTION STEPS OF A THIN FILM DEVICE   20
          SUBSTRATE SELECTION   21
TABLE 4 SUBSTRATE MATERIALS FOR THIN AND ULTRATHIN
  FILMS, 2011  21
TABLE 4 (CONTINUED)  22
          THIN FILM DEPOSITION 22
          PATTERNING AND FINISHING   23
   THIN FILM DEPOSITION PROCESSES   23
          PHYSICAL PROCESSES  23
          CHEMICAL PROCESSES   23
          HYBRID PROCESSES  24
TABLE 5 THIN FILM TECHNOLOGIES, 2011  24
TABLE 5 (CONTINUED)  25
TABLE 5 (CONTINUED)  26
TABLE 5 (CONTINUED)  27
          DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGIES FOR ULTRATHIN FILMS  27
TABLE 6 DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGIES FOR ULTRATHIN FILMS,
  2011  28
          LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS FROM 2009
               TO PRESENT   28
                     Thin Film Technologies   29
                               Reactive High-Power Impulse Magnetron
                                     Sputtering  29
                               Hybrid Chemical Vapor Deposition   29
                               Microwave-Assisted Rotatable PVD  30
                               Capacitive-Coupled Magnetic Neutral Loop Plasma
                                     Sputtering System   31
                               High-Power Impulse Ionized PVD   31
                               Low-Temperature High-Power Impulse Magnetron
                                     Sputtering  32
                               Modulated Ion-Induced Atomic Layer Deposition   33
                               Catalyst-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition   33
                     Ultrathin Film Technologies   34
                               Ultrathin Films by Exfoliation   34
                               Field-Aided Preferential Deposition  34
                               Printable Ultrathin Films  35
                               Electroless Plating with Silane-Based Catalyst  36
                               Pulsed Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor
                                     Deposition  37
   FREE-STANDING THIN FILMS  38
          THIN FILM DEPOSITION AND FILM RELEASE   38
                     Peeling 38
                     Lift-Off 38
                     Laser Lift-Off   38
                     Substrate Compression   39
          VACUUM FILTRATION   39
        FLOW COATING   39
TABLE 7 METHODS FOR FABRICATION OF FREE-STANDING THIN
  FILMS  39
TABLE 8 FREE-STANDING THIN FILMS: FILM COMPOSITION AND
  APPLICATIONS  40
        LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS FROM 2009
            TO PRESENT   41
                  Chemical Release of Free-Standing Single-Walled Carbon
                       Nanotube Films  41
                  Free-standing Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Thin
                       Films Formed by Direct Dry Printing Process  41
                  Large-Area, Free-Standing Zinc Oxide Thin Films   42
                  Process for Manufacturing Free-Standing Ultrathin
                       Carbon Nanotube Films   42
   THIN FILM MATERIALS  43
        PHYSICAL PROCESSES  44
TABLE 9 PHYSICAL PROCESSES: TYPICAL DEPOSITION
  MATERIALS FOR THIN FILMS, 2011   44
TABLE 9 (CONTINUED)  45
TABLE 9 (CONTINUED)  46
TABLE 9 (CONTINUED)  47
TABLE 9 (CONTINUED)  48
TABLE 9 (CONTINUED)  49
        CHEMICAL PROCESSES   49
                  Chemical Vapor Deposition   50
TABLE 10 CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION: MATERIALS FOR THIN
  FILMS, 2011  50
                            Functional Group Sources  50
                            Metal Sources  51
                                       Metal Hydrides and Halides  51
                                       Metalorganic Precursors   52
                                                  Metalorganic   (Continued)   53
TABLE 11 COMMON METALORGANIC PRECURSORS, 2011   54
TABLE 11 (CONTINUED) 55
                  Chemical Solution Deposition   55
                            Sol-gel Methods   55
                            Organic-Inorganic Hybrids   56
TABLE 12 CHEMICAL SOLUTION DEPOSITION: MATERIALS FOR
  THIN FILMS, 2011  56
TABLE 12 (CONTINUED)  57
                  Plating Type Methods   57
                            Electroplating 57
                            Electroless Plating  58
                            Electrophoretic Deposition   58
   TABLE 13 PLATING TYPE METHODS: MATERIALS FOR THIN
     FILMS, 2011  59
                 Other Chemical Processes   59
                           Liquid Phase Epitaxy   60
                           Liquid Phase Deposition   60
                           Interfacial Polymerization  60
                           Langmuir-Blodgett Deposition   60
                           Self-Assembled Monolayer Deposition   61
                           Layer-by-Layer Assembly   61
                           Flame Hydrolysis  62
                           Spray Pyrolysis   62
                           Laser Reactive Deposition  62
   TABLE 14 OTHER CHEMICAL PROCESSES: MATERIALS FOR THIN
     FILMS, 2011  63
           LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS FROM 2009
              TO PRESENT   63
                 Silver Precursor for Doping Free-Standing Carbon
                      Nanotube Films  63
                           Silver Precursor for Doping   (Continued)   64
                 Diimine Copper Complexes for Atomic Layer Deposition   65
                 Precursors Containing Electron Donating Group-
                      Substituted Alkenyl Ligands for Chemical Vapor
                      Deposition   65
                 Phosphoamidinate Precursors for Chemical Vapor
                      Deposition   66
                 Organometallic Precursors for High-Purity Metal Films
                      formed by CVD   66
                 Sputtering Targets Based on Carbon Nanotubes  67
                 Electroplating Solutions for Solar Cells   67
                           Electroplating Solutions   (Continued)  68
                 Copper Sputtering Targets for Microelectronics and
                      Optoelectronics   69
                 Alternative Sputtering Target Materials for Transparent
                      Conductive Films 69
                 Polymeric Precursors for Printing Thin Films for Solar
                      Cells  70
                 Precursors for Chemical Vapor Deposition of High-K
                      Films   71
           TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS  72

CHAPTER FIVE: GLOBAL MARKETS 
     ANALYSIS OUTLINE  73
     GLOBAL MARKET SUMMARY  74
  TABLE 15 GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS,
    THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   75
FIGURE 2 GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS, 2011­
   2016 ($ MILLIONS)   75
    CURRENT MARKET STATUS  75
          CURRENT MARKET SUMMARY  76
TABLE 16 GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS,
   THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS)  76
FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MARKET FOR THIN FILM MATERIALS, 2009­
   2011 ($ MILLIONS)  76
                    Revenues by Deposition Technology   77
TABLE 17 THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
   DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS)   78
FIGURE 4 THIN FILM MATERIALS: MARKET SHARE BY
   DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY, 2011 (%)  78
FIGURE 4 (CONTINUED)  79
                    Revenues by Application   79
TABLE 18 THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
   APPLICATION, THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS)  80
FIGURE 5 THIN FILM MATERIALS: MARKET SHARE BY
   APPLICATION, 2011 (%)  81
                    Revenues by Film Thickness   81
TABLE 19 THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL REVENUES BY FILM
   THICKNESS, 2009 THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS)   82
                    Revenues by Region   82
TABLE 20 THIN FILM MATERIALS: REVENUES BY REGION,
   THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS) 83
FIGURE 6 THIN FILM MATERIALS: MARKET SHARE BY REGION,
   2011 (%)  83
FIGURE 6 (CONTINUED)  84
    MARKET GROWTH TRENDS   84
          INDUSTRY GROWTH   84
                    Electronics 84
                              Semiconductors   84
TABLE 21 FORECAST - SEMICONDUCTORS: REVENUES BY
   REGION, THROUGH 2016 ($ BILLIONS)  85
                              Printed Circuits and Other Interconnecting
                                    Components   85
TABLE 22 FORECAST - PRINTED CIRCUITS AND OTHER
   INTERCONNECTING COMPONENTS: REVENUES BY REGION,
   THROUGH 2016 ($ BILLIONS)  86
                              Data Storage Devices  86
                                         Solid State Drives   86
                                         Internet Downloads and Cloud Computing   87
                                         Hard Disk Drive Market Growth   87
TABLE 23 FORECAST - HARD DISK DRIVES: GLOBAL PRODUCTION
   BY TYPE, THROUGH 2016 (MILLION UNITS)   88
FIGURE 7 FORECAST ­ HARD DISK DRIVES: PRODUCTION SHARE
   BY TYPE, 2016 (% UNITS)   88
                                  Optical Storage Media Market Growth   89
TABLE 24 FORECAST ­ OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIA: GLOBAL
   PRODUCTION BY TYPE, THROUGH 2016 (MILLION UNITS)   89
FIGURE 8 FORECAST ­ OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIA: PRODUCTION
   SHARE BY TYPE, 2016 (% UNITS)  90
               Optoelectronics  90
TABLE 25 FORECAST ­ ADVANCED DISPLAYS: GLOBAL REVENUES
   BY TYPE, THROUGH 2016 ($ BILLIONS)  91
TABLE 26 FORECAST - ADVANCED DISPLAYS: COATED AREA BY
   TYPE, THROUGH 2016 (MILLION M2)  92
FIGURE 9 FORECAST - ADVANCED DISPLAYS: COATED AREA
   SHARE BY TYPE, 2016 (%)   93
               Mechanical/Chemical  93
TABLE 27 FORECAST ­ APPLICATIONS FOR PROTECTIVE
   COATINGS: GLOBAL REVENUES, THROUGH 2016 ($ BILLIONS)   94
               Energy  94
TABLE 28 FORECAST - PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES: GLOBAL
   PRODUCTION BY TYPE, THROUGH 2016 (MW)   95
FIGURE 10 PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES: PRODUCTION SHARE BY
   TYPE, 2016 (%)   95
FIGURE 10 (CONTINUED)   96
               Other Industry Sectors  96
         TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS   96
               On-going Miniaturization in the Semiconductor Industry  96
TABLE 29 IC CONFIGURATIONS, 2009-2016   97
               Thin, Ultrathin and Flexible Devices   97
               Roll-to-roll and Large Area Coatings  98
               Merging of Thick and Thin Film Technologies  98
               Nanotechnology   98
TABLE 30 THE NANOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY  99
TABLE 30 (CONTINUED) 100
TABLE 31 NANOTECHNOLOGY: GLOBAL REVENUES BY SEGMENT,
   THROUGH 2016 ($ BILLIONS)  100
FIGURE 11 NANOTECHNOLOGY: GLOBAL MARKET SHARE BY
   SEGMENT, 2011 (%)  101
               Energy and Environmental Factors   101
               Others  102
         REGIONAL TRENDS  102
   MARKET FORECAST  103
         REVENUES BY APPLICATION   103
   TABLE 32 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 104
   FIGURE 12 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: MARKET SHARE
      BY APPLICATION, 2016 (%)  104
   FIGURE 12 (CONTINUED)  105
                  Revenues by Deposition Technology   105
   TABLE 33 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH 2016 ($
      MILLIONS)  106
   FIGURE 13 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL MARKET
      SHARE BY DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY, 2016 (%)   106
   FIGURE 13 (CONTINUED)  107
                  Revenues by Film Thickness   107
   TABLE 34 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY FILM THICKNESS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  107
                  Revenues by Region   108
   TABLE 35 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: REVENUES BY
      REGION, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  108
   FIGURE 14 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS: MARKET SHARE
      BY REGION, 2016 (%)  109

CHAPTER SIX: MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL
     OBJECTIVE  110
            THIN FILMS FOR THE MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR  110
  TABLE 36 THIN FILMS IN THE MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR,
    2011  110
     CURRENT MARKET BY APPLICATION   111
  TABLE 37 THIN FILM MATERIALS FOR THE
    MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
    APPLICATION, 2011 ($ MILLIONS/%)   111
     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INDUSTRY GROWTH   112
            CATALYSTS   112
  TABLE 38 FORECAST ­ CATALYSTS AND PHOTOCATALYSTS:
    GLOBAL REVENUES, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  113
            SOLID LUBRICANTS   113
  TABLE 39 AUTOMOTIVE AND INDUSTRIAL LUBRICANTS:
    CONSUMPTION BY TYPE, WORLDWIDE, THROUGH 2016
    (MILLION KG)   114
            SENSORS   114
  TABLE 40 SENSORS: REVENUES BY TYPE, WORLDWIDE,
    THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  115
            MEMBRANE AND FILTERS  115
  TABLE 41 FORECAST - FILTRATION: GLOBAL REVENUES,
    THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 116
            OTHER APPLICATIONS  116
      RECENT INDUSTRY EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS   116
           THIN FILM FOR PREVENTING PITTING CORROSION   116
           NANOCOATINGS FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE CARBIDE
             DRILLS   117
           PHOTOCATALYTIC THIN FILMS WITH NANOPARTICLES  118
           THIN-FILM TEMPERATURE SENSOR ON SAPPHIRE FIBER
             TIP   118
                Thin-film Temperature   (Continued)   119
           NANOFILM MEMBRANES FOR CARBON DIOXIDE
             CAPTURE   120
      MARKET SUMMARY AND FORECAST  120
           REVENUES BY APPLICATION   120
   TABLE 42 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS FOR THE
     MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
     APPLICATION, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)   121
           REVENUES BY DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY   122
   TABLE 43 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS FOR THE
     MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
     DEPOSITION TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS)  122
           REVENUES BY FILM THICKNESS  123
   TABLE 44 FORECAST ­ THIN FILM MATERIALS FOR THE
     MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL SECTOR: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
     FILM THICKNESS, THROUGH 2016 ($ MILLIONS) 123

CHAPTER SEVEN: GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 
     GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE   124
     LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF THIN FILM MATERIALS  125
  TABLE 45 LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF THIN FILM
    MATERIALS, 2011  125
  TABLE 45 (CONTINUED)  126
  TABLE 45 (CONTINUED)  127
  TABLE 45 (CONTINUED) 128
     NOTABLE RECENT INDUSTRY CHANGES  129
  TABLE 46 NOTABLE RECENT INDUSTRY CHANGES   129
     THIN FILM MATERIALS PRODUCTION BY REGION   130
  TABLE 47 THIN FILM MATERIALS: MANUFACTURING BY REGION,
    2009-2016 (PERCENT OF SALES)   130
     THIN FILM MATERIALS CONSUMPTION BY REGION  130
  TABLE 48 THIN FILM MATERIALS: CONSUMPTION BY REGION,
    2009-2016 (PERCENT OF SALES)   131
     COMPANY PROFILES  131
          AIR LIQUIDE   132
          AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS   133
          AKZO NOBEL  134
          ATOTECH  135
           BASF   136
           DAIDO STEEL   137
           DOW CHEMICAL  138
                 Dow Chemical (Continued)   139
           ENTHONE 140
           HERAEUS  141
   TABLE 49 HERAEUS TARGETS, 2011   142
           HITACHI METALS  143
           JOHNSON MATTHEY  144
           JX NIPPON MINING & METALS  145
           KOBE STEEL   146
           LINDE  147
           MACDERMID   148
           MATERION  148
   TABLE 50 MATERION TECHNOLOGIES, 2011  149
           MATSUDA SANGYO   150
           MERCK   151
           MITSUI MINING & SMELTING  151
           PRAXAIR  152
                 Praxair (Continued)   153
           SAMSUNG CORNING PRECISION MATERIALS 154
                 Samsung Corning Precision Materials (Continued)  155
           SUMITOMO METAL MINING   156
           TOSOH   157
                 Tosoh (Continued) 158
           ULVAC 159
   TABLE 51 ULVAC SPUTTERING TARGETS, 2011   160
           UMICORE  160
   TABLE 52 UMICORE SPUTTERING TARGETS, 2011   161

CHAPTER EIGHT: U S  PATENT ANALYSIS  
     INTRODUCTION   162
     SUMMARY OF PATENTS AWARDED IN 2011  162
  TABLE 53 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS, U S  PATENTS, 2011   pages 163-213
   GENERAL TRENDS  214
TABLE 54 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS: U S  PATENT TRENDS,
  THROUGH 2011  214
   TRENDS BY COUNTRY AND REGION   214
FIGURE 15 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS: PATENT SHARE BY
   REGION, 2011 (%)   215
FIGURE 16 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS: PATENT SHARE BY
   COUNTRY, 2011 (%)   216
   TRENDS BY ASSIGNEE   217
TABLE 55 ASSIGNEES OF U S  PATENTS RELATED TO THIN AND
   ULTRATHIN FILMS, 2011   218
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  219
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  220
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  221
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  222
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  223
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  224
TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)  225
   TRENDS BY PATENT CATEGORY  226
FIGURE 17 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS: SHARES OF U S
   PATENTS BY CATEGORY, 2011 (%)  226
FIGURE 17 (CONTINUED)  227
   TRENDS BY DEPOSITION METHOD   227
FIGURE 18 THIN AND ULTRATHIN FILMS: SHARES OF U S
   PATENTS BY DEPOSITION METHOD, 2011 (%) 228