REDUCING COST OF GALLIUM ARSENIDE DEVICES

We love silicon for its low cost solutions; however there is another material that can revolutionize how we think of computer chips, electronic devices, and solar cells. That material is gallium arsenide(GaAs), which boosts electron speed six time more than silicon.

Reducing the cost of producing GaAs is the challenge since silicon has a more than one thousand time cost advantage. But what if we were to bring the ratio down to 50 times through initial prototyping? This could be the impetus of delivering GaAs wafers on a larger production scale and increase performance of solar cells to electronic devices.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

The manufacturing process presently for reducing this cost as described in Figure 1 below provides solutions of how to process the GaAs wafer and then reclaim it to use it again.

FIGURE 1.

Cover the first layer in a disposable material, and then add a thin IR absorbing layer with another layer added as shown in step 3. A thin layer of GaAs is then deposited on top to allow for the conversion into electronic devices, such as solar cells. Isolate the devices from one another, apply a polyimide tape and irradiate the top GaAs layer as shown in step 8. Your GaAs wafer can then be etched and reused to start the process all over again.

As our industry over the years has focused all its ingenuity in making silicon wafers less expensive, we can do the same for a material that is six times faster. The economies of scale process will commence once it becomes cost effective to make GaAs devices. This manufacturing process is a step in the right direction. If others, such as people reading this article, can contribute to the process, we can advance mankind.

Contact Applied Watts today for more information about your GaAs wafer needs and let us contribute to your manufacturing process.