Experimental pilot line for graphene-based electronics

The Graphene Flagship, upon the invitation of the European Commission, is creating an experimental pilot line for graphene-based electronics, optoelectronics and sensors – a first-of-its-kind experimental manufacturing facility, where European companies, research centres and academic institutions, can produce novel devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials on a pilot scale.

The goal of this ambitious undertaking is to demonstrate how to manufacture and scale up the production of devices based on 2D materials for market applications. This is a crucial step before graphene technologies can be transferred to full scale manufacturing.

The Graphene Flagship has proposed a consortium consisting of key European players covering the whole value chain, including tool manufacturers, chemical and material providers and semiconductor fabrication lines: Aixtron and Oxford Instruments (UK), imec (Belgium), AMO, iHP, Micro Resist Technology, Aixtron and Suss Microtech (Germany), Graphenea (Spain) and VTT (Finland). The project will hold its online kick-off meeting on Thursday, 8 October 2020.

"For many applications, the wafer scale integration of graphene and potentially other 2D materials is required for products to appear on the market," says Lilei Ye, Business Developer for Electronics Applications at the Graphene Flagship. "The 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL) will accelerate the manufacture of new prototypes for electronics, photonics and optoelectronics with integrated graphene and layered materials."

"Two-dimensional materials have unique properties for electronic and photonic devices, as well as for sensors," says Cedric Huyghebaert, technical leader of the 2D-EPL project and programme manager for exploratory material and module integration at imec. "There are now plenty of prototypes of devices based on 2D materials that out-perform current technologies. To bring these devices into the market we need to develop tool kits and design manuals to allow manufacturing compatible with semiconductor industry standards."

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