High Tech [ Return towards  Long-term growth  ]

To manufacture increasingly high-performance electronic components, the semiconductor industry must constantly upgrade the underlying materials. The R&D teams at Air Liquide are developing patented molecules known as advanced precursors.

In full compliance with the quality standards of our clients, particularly in terms of ultra-purity, they make the electronic chips of tomorrow increasingly efficient.

The Group is working with the electronics industry to manufacture increasingly powerful, tiny chips. It has produced a range of new molecules called “advanced precursors” custom-made for semiconductor manufacturers’ new industrial processes.

Gas offers infinite possibilities in every form.

For many years, the Group, via its Advanced Technologies activities, has contributed to major European space and scientific programs with its expertise in at very low temperature cryogenics systems (using liquid or superfluid helium):

• Air Liquide has created cooling systems reaching temperatures close to absolute zero for the Herschel and Planck space telescopes, which will be jointly launched by Ariane 5 in 2009.
• In theoretical research, the Group’s expertise in superfluid helium significantly contributed to the construction of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), the new particle accelerator of the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research).
• In 2007, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies and Euro Cryospace (a strategic partnership between Air Liquide and Astrium) were selected by the CNES to develop new cryogenic technologies for future launchers. Combining their respective areas of expertise and skills, this mission resulted in HX, the technology demonstration program. Most of the technologies developed for HX are the first of their kind in the world. Air Liquide is currently developing the fundamental innovations for the next generations of cryogenic propulsion launchers that meet the new challenges of the space industry.

Building from their expertise in very high pressures, our researchers have developed tanks to store hydrogen up to 700 bar and the most efficient hydrogen distribution stations on the market. They are leading the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and sustainable mobility. More than 55 Air Liquide stations of this kind are already in operation around the world.