IHP Joins 'Graphene Flagship'

IHP – Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics has joined the European “Graphene Flagship” consortium as associated member. The membership will strengthen the collaboration with other leading European organizations working on the science, technology, and applications of graphene and related materials. IHP will contribute to the scientific and technological agenda of the flagship by performing research focused on exploiting the unique properties of layered materials in microelectronic devices.

In the first phase, these research activities will be centered on wafer scale graphene synthesis and various aspects of integration with Si microelectronics. By becoming part of the “Graphene Flagship”, IHP gains access to flagship’s information, training, and networking platforms and engages in planning and research-roadmapping activities. “Graphene research was established at IHP several years ago. Right now we are able to produce graphene in IHP’s cleanroom on a whole wafer. But when we try to incorporate such thin layer into a transistor, the atoms of the graphene react with other atoms. Thus, we lose the desired properties”, Dr. Mindaugas Lukosius, Graphene Group Leader at IHP in the Materials Research department. “More research has to be done. As an associated member of ‘Graphene Flagship’, we will have the opportunity to collaborate with international experts in the field on setting up all requested process steps to achieve the processing and evaluation of graphene prototype devices in a professional Si technology environment. Here, ultrafast photonic and electronic devices are in the focus of IHP.”

The EU project “Grapene Flagship” is one of the largest European research initiatives. It aims to secure the European pioneering role in graphene research during the next 10 years. The project combines European research on graphene and graphene-based materials. The project “Graphene Flagship” is managed by the Chalmers University of Technology. More than 150 academic and industrial research groups in 23 countries are united in the project.

About IHP:

The IHP is an institute of the Leibniz Association and conducts research and development of silicon-based systems and ultra high-frequency circuits and technologies including new materials. It develops innovative solutions for application areas such as wireless and broadband communication, aerospace, biotechnology and medicine, automotive industry, security technology and industrial automation. The IHP employs approximately 300 people. It operates a pilot line for technological developments and the preparation of high-speed circuits with 0.13/0.25 µm BiCMOS technologies, located in a 1000 m² class 1 cleanroom. For more information, visit www.ihp-microelectronics.com.