Uni partnership for lighting

Griffith University has announced a partnership with SPP Process Technology Systems that could lead to the next generation of electronic devices and lighting.

The university’s Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre director, Prof Debra Bernhardt, said the partnership would develop a platform technology that has the potential to improve performance and energy efficiency, and reduce cost for many products.

“The partnership will develop and market Griffith’s novel silicon carbide on silicon platform technology, where high-quality SiC films deposited on silicon Si wafers can, for the first time, provide the superior properties of SiC at a fraction of the cost,” Alan Iacopi, QMNC operations director, said.

“The SiC wafers currently exist, but they are costly and hence commercial viability is limited. However, putting SiC on low-cost Si wafers reduces the cost tremendously, opening opportunities for research, development and commercialisation.”

QMNC’s deputy director, Prof Sima Dimitrijev, said the advantage of Griffith’s approach to SiC was to integrate it with the mainstream silicon technology.

“The superior electrical and mechanical properties of SiC layers deposited on Si wafers enable a new range of products, including sensors, medical devices and devices for micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS),” Prof Dimitrijev said.

“They also provide the cheapest platform for light-emitting diodes, which will help to make progress towards replacing incandescent and fluorescent light.”