Graphene Flagship celebrates 2D materials project successes

Representing the first graphene foundry to integrate graphene and other 2D materials into semiconductor devices, the symposium will demonstrate the 2D-EPL’s progress in creating an ecosystem for 2D materials within electronics, photonics, and biomedical devices.

Beginning in October 2020, the four-year project is the culmination of many of the Graphene Flagship’s efforts to bring graphene and related materials (GRM) out of the laboratory and into scalable commercial production and usage. As the 2D-EPL is now in its fourth and final year, the upcoming symposium will present significant outcomes from the project and outline future directions.

In a show of dedication to European industry, the free to attend two-day lunch-to-lunch event will feature speakers from a variety of project partners and 2D materials experts based across the continent. This includes professionals from Melexis (Switzerland), Graphenea (Spain), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (Belgium), CNIT (Italy), and AMO (Germany), whose talks will focus on the biomedical and photonics application potential for GRM semiconductors.

Keynote speeches will be delivered by Peter Bøggild from the Technical University of Denmark and Hyeon-Jin Shin from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea, tackling the specific challenges associated with GRM design, large scale production, and integration for next-generation logic devices. An Innovation Workshop led by researchers from Black Semiconductor, Infineon, and others, will further provide a platform for attendees to partake in the conversation on the future of GRM development in Europe.

Initially, the 2D-EPL project was constructed around two pillars. The first, focused on prototyping and wafer fabrication, offered academics, researchers, and private companies a first-of-its-kind opportunity to test and prototype novel ideas for 2D material devices. Five experimental multi-project wafer (MPW) runs have enabled low cost, large-scale prototype development.

The other pillar has been focused on process enablement, featuring the construction of two bespoke new tools. This includes a metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) reactor from Aixtron and automated 2D layer transfer tool by SUSS MicroTec. Creation of these tools has enabled thorough testing and modification of 2D material growth and layer transfer processes, providing an essential foundation for achieving high production capabilities in the future.

“We’re very pleased with the project results so far and are looking forward to sharing our progress with the wider scientific community,” explained Inge Asselberghs, 2D-EPL division leader at imec and symposium lead. “As we’re now approaching the sixth and last MPW run of the project, it’s our ambition to go in a full sequence from growth to transfer, using the new tooling and applying the lessons we’ve learnt so far to make this run our most successful yet.”

“The Pilot Line is not just about the hard data and scientific and technological advances that we have gathered together, but also – and perhaps even more importantly – the personal interactions that have created a playground for cross-fertilisation of ideas for the future of 2D materials innovation in Europe,” adds Patrik Johansson, Director of the Graphene Flagship. "And as the global graphene market is set to grow exponentially in size, from an annual revenue of $380 million in 2022 to $1.5 billion in just five years, projects like the 2D-EPL are vital in keeping Europe at the forefront of development and innovation."

This commitment to European development is further solidified through the actions of the Graphene Flagship’s former director Jari Kinaret, who is currently taking leadership of the Chips Joint Undertaking. With this initiative, the European Commission aims to reinforce Europe’s position as a technological leader in the semiconductor industry and secure industrial independence, goals that are central to the 2D-EPL project.

Registration for the 2D-EPL symposium is free and can be accessed on the Graphene Flagship website, along with full agenda and speaker information. For researchers or private businesses looking to partake in the 2D-EPL project, the sixth and final MPW run, provided by Graphenea Semiconductors, is currently open for applications until the end of June. Details on how to apply can also be found on the Graphene Flagship website.