Feature: Semiconductors


such as electronic and biomedical devices, photonics, sensors, energy conversion and storage, and more. On top of that, the Graphene Flagship


has established two new services for the validation and standardisation of graphene and related materials, which will be of great utility to industries looking to incorporate graphene into products. So far, the absence of accurate measurement protocols and the lack of standards have become serious obstacles to the commercialisation of graphene. Te Graphene Flagship initiated professional validation and standardisation processes – provided by national measurement institutes – that will accelerate the technology’s development and transfer to industry. Te Graphene Flagship has also released


an open-access publication that gathers all the know-how in the manufacture of graphene, acquired during years of research. Encompassing over 1,500 references and the knowledge of over 70 co-authors from the Graphene Flagship consortium, this handbook provides a single source of knowledge on graphene and other layered materials.


Graphene innovation As an example, Finland has already made an extensive contribution to graphene research through the Graphene Flagship. Starting from the joint interest of Nokia and Finnish research institutes, soon aſter the experimental discovery of graphene


and related materials (GRM) in 2004, the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland began focusing on this field. Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, VTT describes its research centre as a “sweet spot for innovation” with a vision to change companies and wider society through science-based innovations. VTT’s interest in graphene was sparked


by the discovery of the potential of this new 2D material in sensing applications, and has always had a strong focus on scaleable production methods. Aſter attempting to produce wafer-scale monolayer graphene by transfer printing from layered graphite, VTT established in-house chemical vapour disposition (CVD) in 2010 and began to work with printed GRMs. Since then, the centre’s interest in graphene has blossomed and paved new opportunities to explore other potential applications for 2D materials.


Biosensors One of the most important application areas for graphene at VTT is biosensors – devices that measure biological or chemical reactions by quantifying an electrical response. Graphene offers several advantages to enable the emergence of point-of-care and point-of-application biosensors for use in health care, the food industry and home appliances. Graphene’s chemical stability and high sensitivity, together with its easy integration with CMOS, can dramatically improve both the cost structure and the accuracy of the data collected by graphene-based biosensors. VTT has recently demonstrated a


graphene FET that can be integrated with a biosensor cloud interface for home-healthcare diagnostics. In this area, VTT combines its expertise on material science, IC design, protein and antibody engineering and biosensor system integration. Other areas where CVD graphene and


Integrating graphene and related materials into silicon wafers could revolutionise the electronics industry


2D semiconductors can be used are in THz and infrared detectors, hyperspectral imaging, integrated photonics and quantum technologies, as well as flexible electronics. Te combination of high-conductivity graphene with its excellent RF performance and 2D semiconductors, paves the way for large-


Figure 1: Graphene’s molecular structure


area sensor multiplexing and future wireless communications on flexible platforms, including body area networks (BANs) and neuromorphic computing. Considering such emerging applications,


many of these devices will need thin-film transistors that are distributed over large areas. Te commonly-used silicon-based IC chips need to be integrated as separate elements, which is not always the best option, and flexible 3D semiconductors require relatively high-temperature processes. Here, VTT aims to develop heterogeneous solutions based on large-area 2D materials, carbon nanotubes and printed metal-oxide materials.


Looking to the future One upcoming Graphene Flagship initative involves an endorsement from the European Commision, which has announced a €20m investment in a project called the 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL). Te 2D-EPL is a graphene foundry that offers comprehensive prototyping services to companies, research centres and academics, so they can develop and test their innovative technologies based on 2D materials. Born within the Graphene Flagship,


the collaborative project will pioneer the fabrication of new electronics, photonic devices and sensors that integrate graphene and layered materials. Te project’s ultimate goal is to offer working prototypes and low- volume production of innovative graphene and layered-material-based technologies that are integrated with traditional semiconductors – the first graphene foundry in the world to do so. Te hope is that the 2D-EPL will keep Europe at the forefront of technological innovation, whilst creating the next generation of electronics and semiconductors.


www.electronicsworld.co.uk June 2021 29


[Image credit: imec]


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