Gallium nitride (GaN) electronics
Supplemental content
Contact us
If you’re interested in our semiconductor foundry services, or would like to work with us on research and development activities – from new design to pre-commercialization – contact:
Brian Kennedy
Telephone: 613-993-4269
Email: Brian.Kennedy@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Targeted industries
Communications, power switching, power electronics.
Location
As present-day semiconductors used in wireless radio frequency (RF) electronics reach their limits, the communications industry faces an imminent need to develop new technologies. Gallium nitride (GaN) has emerged as an in-demand semiconductor technology for future radar, electronic warfare and communications technologies. NRC’s GaN Electronics initiative is helping to establish a strong industrial GaN manufacturing capability for Canadians by offering its semiconductor foundry services to key industry players.
Partnership opportunity
GaN is a revolutionary technology that will impact two major and distinct applications: high frequency and high power electronics. NRC is currently looking to partner with device/components suppliers and system integrators in order to strengthen the Canadian supply chain for GaN electronics, supporting homegrown device/component start-ups and encouraging multinational systems integrators to expand their presence in Canada.
Through our GaN Electronics initiative, NRC will support partner research and development activities at every stage – from design to pre-commercialization. Our goal is to ensure that GaN technology will create wealth and a greener future for Canadians by establishing a strong industrial GaN manufacturing capability.
Partner benefits
NRC is the only Canadian foundry for GaN electronics, and a global leader in the field. Our GaN-based technology is proven to provide the best results for enhancing the functionality and reliability of normally-on and normally-off devices. By working with us and making use of our superior technology, industry partners will gain a distinct competitive advantage in the global communications sector.
Other services and facilities
NRC also offers a range of electronics-related research services and facilities available on an individual, fee-for-service (FFS) basis.
Technical advisory services
Our critical infrastructure and expertise allows us to offer exceptional technical services. We maintain world-leading competencies in the following areas:
- GaN electronics fabrication
- GaN electronics test and modeling
- Analytical techniques, materials characterization and reverse engineering
Research facilities
Partners have access to our leading national research and technology development facilities, including the Ottawa-based Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC). CPFC is a world-class semiconductor foundry that provides complete engineering and manufacturing services, commercial grade prototyping and pilot-run production facilities.
For GaN electronics, CPFC offers the GaN500 Design Kit, which describes the fabrication service, and includes both a Design Manual and a Physical Design Kit, based on ADS software. Devices are fabricated with 0.5 micron gate length on SiC substrates.
Partners can choose full wafer runs (one customer’s designs only) or shared wafer runs, which consolidate demand on three or more fabrication runs per year. The latter service is offered in partnership with DMT; visit the DMT Microsystems website for more information.
NRC also offers the following Ottawa-area facilities:
- Cascade automated probe station, complete with ADS and IC-CAP software.
- Surface analysis and material characterization facilities: Chemical and physical analysis of surfaces, interfaces and thin films using secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Auger, etc.; structural characterization using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy.
Contact
Brian Kennedy
Telephone: 613-993-4269
Email: Brian.Kennedy@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
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