-What is the problem/issue being addressed?
DESIGN-EID was an innovate programme providing a unique research training opportunity for a cohort of 3 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the novel and multidisciplinary field of semiconductor opto-electronic technology. The DESIGN-EID project offered strategic training opportunities with exceptional career development prospects in academia and industry.
There is great interest in integrating monolithically or heterogeneously compound semiconductors on silicon to exploit their complementary properties. Particularly to exploit the direct bandgap of III-Vs for optoelectronic devices densely integrated with CMOS. However, lattice and thermal mismatch between materials makes epitaxial growth on silicon challenging.
In this project, we have addressed the challenges associated with the formation of defects and material growth in compound semiconductors such as III-Vs, as well as their impact on device performance. Defects may have been exploited in the development of novel devices, but more often, we wished to mitigate their deteriorating impact on electro-optic device performance by growth and materials optimization. The project combined experimental work at IBM Research Zurich (IBM) with modelling and simulation efforts at Device Modelling Group (University of Glasgow) and Synopsys QuantumATK (ATK, Denmark).
-Why is it important for society?
We identified an increasing demand for reliable and performant electronics circuits, such as those used in our cell phones, computers, or our cars to cite a few. This demand will continue to grow in the coming decades, which challenges the semiconductor industry to develop novel materials and fabrication processes, and reduce not only the overall product cost but also the time to market for new devices and technologies.
Based on our work, the fabrication process of a specific class of semiconductor materials (called “ III-Vs” ) was improved significantly, and the material properties were tailored to enhance the electronic devices' performances. Because such materials and electronic devices are used in every electronic chip currently produced, these new chips need to consume less power and be faster and more reliable. This will lead to faster internet connections, reducing the power consumption in the data centres and building a new type of computer architecture such as quantum computers.
-What are the overall objectives?
We established an industrially driven training network in advanced semiconductor materials development and simulation.
Developed a simulation framework to capture the complexities of growth and defect formation in compound semiconductors.
Experimented validation of modelling concepts via fabrication and characterization of electronic and photonic III-V devices.
