Project description
Breakthrough optoelectronics platform could create light-emitting silicon
Silicon photonics technology allows photonic components to be integrated into a tiny chip. The technology promises greater energy efficiency and lightning-speed processing but comes with a major roadblock: conventional cubic silicon has an indirect band gap, which renders it optically inactive. Unless germanium is added to silicon, in a fully new hexagonal crystal structure, silicon is not good at dealing with light. To overcome this issue, the EU-funded ONCHIPS project aims to build hexagonal germanium-silicon heterostructures for quantum technology applications and realise spin qubits in quantum dots. Furthermore, researchers will build single-photon detectors for light wavelengths exceeding 2 mm. The ONCHIPS novel platform interfacing individual spin qubits and photons could drastically enhance quantum system scalability.
Objective
A major roadblock for silicon-based optoelectronics and its quantum applications is that conventional cubic silicon has an indirect band gap, and hence it is optically inactive. ONCHIPS will capitalize on a recent breakthrough from within its consortium: growth and optical characterization of a revolutionary new material: hexagonal germanium-silicon (hex-GeSi), which is a silicon-based, optically active, direct-bandgap semiconductor. Building on this discovery, ONCHIPS' key objectives are as follows:
(1) We will for the first time grow advanced hex-GeSi heterostructures for quantum technology applications.
(2) We will realise spin qubits in quantum dots in hex-GeSi.
(3) We will create spin-photon interfaces in hex-GeSi, made possible by the direct bandgap of the material.
(4) We will build single-photon detectors for wavelengths beyond 2 micrometers, optimized for emission from hex-GeSi.
This project is well aligned with the scope of the call, and will foster the integration of electronic and optoelectronic functionalities based on a silicon-based direct-bandgap semiconductor, using a combination of facilities and expertise that is available only in Europe.
Hence ONCHIPS will establish a strong contribution to European innovation leadership in electronics, photonics, emerging enabling technologies in general, and quantum technologies in particular, making our contributions highly relevant for the work program. This new material has the potential to be compatible with standard silicon-based semiconductor technology, benefitting from established roadmaps on miniaturization and scalability.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics optoelectronics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware quantum computers
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.2 - Key Digital Technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.