Collaboration leads to improving the efficiency of LED
The Compound Semiconductor Centre Ltd (CSC) is a joint venture founded in 2015 between Cardiff University and epiwafer foundry and semiconductor manufacturer IQE of Cardiff, UK and Kubos Semiconductors Ltd of Cambridge.
UK has signed a contract to follow the commercialization of cubic gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxial technology for high-efficiency LED lighting applications. The agreement aims to accelerate the development of Kubos’ IP on metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactors at CSC’s St Mellons facility, via the collaboration of CSC, Kubos and IQE and Cambridge University staff.
The partnership brings benefits to Kubos by allowing the company to accelerate the development of patented technologies on reactors at CSC’s St Mellons facility in Cardiff, while CSC benefits from future device manufacturing growth as the project progresses. Kubos’ cubic GaN growth technology can facilitate improved displays and also light bulbs that can be varied to mimic the natural changes in daylight throughout the day.
Revealing potential to commercialization in Kubos’ cubic GaN technology
The CSC facility in St Mellons is co-located with significant volume manufacturing capacity of its Joint Venture owners IQE, so the infrastructure provides the advantage of a seamless scale up from low-volume R&D and prototyping activities through to process transfer onto Aixtron MOCVD production tools, installed during a £10m capital investment completed at the site in 2017.
“This is a great example of our ability to accelerate new epitaxial technologies to market by supporting an ecosystem where academic researchers work in an industrially relevant environment. It provides a very low-cost model for spinouts and new ventures to leverage the significant capital investment required to commercialize new epitaxial technologies. The cost and risk of commercialization are reduced with the added benefit of working with a wide range of relevant capability and partners in the emerging CS connected compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales,” says CSC’s Director Dr. Wyn Meredith.
“As our technology matures it will also mean that we have an established relationship with a partner who can support the move to high-yield, high-volume processes that are required for a commercially viable LED technology. Once mature, Kubos plans to license the technology to major LED makers,” concluded Caroline O’Brien, CEO of Kubos.
