The market for sapphire LED wafers has undergone significant changes over the past two years,reflecting two significant trends: the transition to larger-diameter wafers and the transition to the purchase of patterned sapphire substrates (PSS).

The heart of the LED sapphire market has moved up from 2” wafers to 4” wafers.

Still in the minority — but clearly the fastest-growing part of the sapphire wafer market — is 6” sapphire. Market research firm Yole Developpement forecasted in August 2014 that the use of 6”wafers will double between 2014 and 2016, to about 25% of the LED sapphire market.

Semiconductor Today: Implications for LEDs of the Shift to Large-Diameter Sapphire Wafers