From 4K/8K Ultra-High-Definition TVs to Next-Generation Memory Chips, Magnesium Oxide Targets Are Quietly Leading the Innovation of the Electronics Industry
Published: August 20, 2025
Source: Yiwu Yitech Trading Co., Ltd.
In today's rapidly advancing technology, a key fundamental material called magnesium oxide (MgO) targets is rising at an unprecedented rate, becoming a core engine driving the development of high-end industries such as flat-panel displays, semiconductors, and optical coatings. Despite its humble beginnings, these seemingly ordinary white ceramic sheets have laid the foundation for modern ultra-high-definition display technology and advanced memory.
What are MgO targets?
First, let's demystify MgO targets. "Target," short for "sputtering target," is a key consumable in the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. Under a high vacuum environment, ion bombardment of this "target" causes its atoms or molecules to be sputtered out and deposited evenly like a spray onto a substrate (such as a glass substrate or silicon wafer), forming a thin film with specific functions.
MgO targets, as the name suggests, are sputtering targets primarily composed of high-purity, high-density magnesium oxide. They have extremely stringent requirements for purity (typically exceeding 99.95%), density, and microstructure, and the manufacturing process directly determines the performance and quality of the final film.
Why are MgO targets so important? Analysis of Core Applications
The "Guardian" of the Flat Panel Display Industry (Mainstream Applications)
MgO thin films play an indispensable role in today's mainstream PDPs (plasma display panels) and AC-PDPs (alternating current plasma display panels). They serve as a protective layer and discharge dielectric layer within the display unit.
Excellent protective properties: MgO thin films effectively withstand the intense ion bombardment of the electrode material in plasma, significantly extending the service life of the panel.
Lowering discharge voltage: MgO has a high secondary electron emission coefficient, which can significantly reduce the operating voltage of display screens, making devices more energy-efficient and efficient.
Improving display performance: MgO ensures display brightness, contrast, and response speed, providing users with a smoother, more vivid visual experience. With the widespread adoption of 4K/8K ultra-high-definition technology, demand for high-performance MgO targets continues to grow.
A rising star in semiconductor memory (cutting-edge applications).
This is the most promising emerging field for MgO targets. In the manufacturing of next-generation magnetic random access memory (MRAM), MgO thin films are used as tunneling barriers. This layer is the core of MRAM's data storage, and its quality directly determines the memory's read/write speed, energy consumption, and reliability. Ultra-high-purity MgO targets form a near-perfect crystal structure, ensuring efficient electron tunneling, thereby creating a faster, more energy-efficient, and non-volatile next-generation memory chips.
Optical and functional coatings
MgO thin films, with their high transparency and high dielectric constant, are also widely used in:
Optical coatings: Used as protective films or components in various optical devices.
Thin-film solar cells: As a buffer layer or functional layer, MgO targets help improve the cell's photoelectric conversion efficiency.
Technical Challenges and Market Prospects
Manufacturing high-performance MgO targets is no easy task. The main challenges are:
Extremely high purity requirements: Any trace impurities can severely impact the electrical and optical properties of the thin film.
High density and uniformity: The target must be dense, non-porous, and structurally uniform to ensure a stable sputtering process and consistent film quality.
The trend toward larger sizes: As panel and wafer sizes continue to grow, corresponding targets also need to be larger, placing extremely high demands on sintering and processing technologies.
Globally, a small number of companies in countries such as Japan and the United States have long dominated the high-end MgO target market. However, in recent years, with China's rise in the display and semiconductor industry chains, leading domestic materials companies have continuously increased their R&D investment, achieving significant breakthroughs in key processes such as high-purity purification, hot pressing (HP), and atmosphere sintering. This has gradually replaced imports and ensured the independence, controllability, security, and stability of the domestic industry chain.
Besides of MgO target, Yiwu Yitech Trading Co., Ltd. can produce and supply full range of ceramic sputtering targets and compound targets, including oxide sputtering targets, carbide sputtering targets, fluoride sputtering targets, sulfide sputtering targets and so on. The production technology of ceramic sputtering targets are hot press. From the selection of raw materials to the control of temperature, pressure and time of hot press sintering, we strictly follow the specific production process, thus the finished ceramic sputtering targets have the characteristics of high purity, high density, uniform surface color without spots and crack, the end user can obtain constant erosion rates and high pure and homogeneous thin films during PVD process.
Expert opinion:
"MgO targets are typical technology-intensive products whose value is much higher than its weight." The Chief Technology Officer of a well-known domestic materials company stated, "With the advancement of MRAM technology from R&D to large-scale mass production, and the emergence of new display technologies such as Micro-LED, the performance and demand for MgO targets will usher in a new round of explosive growth. We are ready to meet the challenge."
Conclusion
In short, although small, MgO targets are the "unsung heroes" driving the progress of many high-tech industries. From the colorful ultra-large-screen TVs in our living rooms to the high-speed, low-power memory chips in future data centers, these high-performance ceramic targets are indispensable. With the continuous advancement of technology, MgO targets will continue to play an irreplaceable and critical role on an even broader stage.