Krypton, xenon, and neon are rare gases found in trace amounts in the atmosphere, yet they play a vital role in high-tech industries. These gases are indispensable across sectors such as electronics, aerospace, lighting, and healthcare, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing and laser applications, where demand continues to grow. In China, Messer has established world-class air separation units and fractional distillation technologies to efficiently extract these gases. After separating major components like nitrogen and oxygen, we further refine tail gases to precisely recover krypton, xenon, and neon, ensuring optimal utilization of these valuable resources. As one of the earliest companies in China to invest in rare gas production, Messer has developed a multi-site network that spans the entire value chain, from raw material extraction to purification and blending. To meet the evolving needs of the electronics industry, our rare gases are available at purities of 5N and above and can be delivered as pure gases or premixed excimer gases. We offer a wide range of packaging solutions, including small-volume cylinders as compact as 0.7 liters, tailored to the specific requirements of chip manufacturers. Supported by robust quality management systems and an extensive local production network, Messer is well-equipped to ensure the ultra-high purity and stability our customers demand. Over the years, we have obtained key industry certifications and earned widespread recognition from many leading customers in the semiconductor sector.
Krypton (Kr)
Krypton makes up approximately 0.00011% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Known for its excellent thermal insulation properties, it is commonly used as a filling gas in double-glazed insulating glass units. Beyond insulation, Krypton is also used as a filling gas in Geiger counters for measuring radioactive radiation. Other applications take the form of krypton mixtures used in special lasers for performing eye surgery or manufacturing intricate semiconductor components. In the electronics industry, krypton serves as a critical process gas in advanced chip fabrication, particularly in key steps such as plasma etching and ion implantation to enable precision material modification. Additionally, krypton is employed in wafer coating processes to enable thin metallic surface films on materials.
Xenon (Xe)
Xenon makes up only about 0.000009% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is a dense, colorless rare gas commonly used as a filling gas in HID automotive headlamps and also serves as an inhalation anesthetic in specialized medical applications. Thanks to its unique ionization properties, xenon is widely applied in high-tech industries. Its ability to efficiently produce and maintain an ionized state makes it indispensable for use as a propellant in ion thrusters to hold satellites in the desired position. It also plays a key role in specialized medical imaging techniques. In semiconductor, xenon is used in precise etching processes and is critical for in the manufacturing of 3D NAND memory chips.
Neon (Ne)
Neon makes up only about 0.0018% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Its most well-known application is in neon light tubes. Due to its exceptional stability and low chemical reactivity, neon is ideal for high-purity applications where consistency is critical. It plays a key role as a component in excimer lasers used in semiconductor chip manufacturing, particularly in laser photolithography. Neon is also used to produce high-resolution smartphone displays and tablets. In scientific and medical fields, neon is often mixed with helium to form neon-helium laser gases, which are used in tasks such as spectrometer calibration and laser vision correction.
Supply Modes
You May Also Be Interested in
Helium
Learn More >
Electronic Gases
Learn More >