Towards sustainable and resilient compound semiconductor supply networks

Compound semiconductors are getting increasingly central to advanced technologies including 5G, power electronics, renewable energy, and quantum devices. However, their manufacturing supply chains remain highly fragmented and resource-intensive; they are susceptible to material scarcities, geopolitical uncertainties, and sustainability challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive theme-wise analysis of the Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Supply Chain (CSMSC) networks across the globe; addressing its structure, challenges, network dynamics, resilience, sustainability, and future trends. With the fusion of insights from various peer-reviewed literature, industry reports, and market research studies; we provide the first comprehensive synthesis of CSMSC. Our study synthesises the key findings and identifies critical research directions in CSMSC, including suggestions for a new Resilience–Sustainability Tension Framework. Insights from the study aim to address key issues such as geopolitical tensions, material dependencies, and sustainability trade-offs in CSMSC, guiding its evolution amidst global demand for compound semiconductors in various technologies.