Soitec and Chongqing Silian Optoelectronics Science & Technology Co.
Ltd. (Silian) have partnered to jointly develop gallium nitride (GaN) template
wafers using hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The resulting GaN template
wafers present cost savings in manufacturing light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The companies’ joint development agreement aims at validating the
manufacturability and enabling the commercialization of GaN template wafers
using Silian’s sapphire substrates and Soitec’s HVPE technology. The partner
companies plan to begin sampling GaN template wafers this year (2012).

Chantal Arena, vice president and general manager of Soitec Phoenix Labs,
where the HVPE technology was developed, said, “Our strategy was to use
production-proven silicon epitaxy equipment features and add our innovative
gallium source and delivery system to create a high productivity HVPE
equipment. We then successfully developed high growth rate processes that
combined with our low cost precursor leads to a more cost effective GaN
template than the ones produced by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE).”

“Silian is excited to work with Soitec and adopt its HVPE technology,” said
David Reid, COO of Silian. “With our extensive sapphire substrate manufacturing
expansion activities in China,
we are very well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity and offer
these high-quality templates in a cost-effective manner to our sapphire
substrate customers.”

“This development of HVPE technology introduces a revolutionary business
model and allows LED makers to free up as much as 60% of their MOVPE capacity.
LED makers can now focus on improving the more custom-designed layers that make
up the light-emitting part of an LED,” said André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé,
president and CEO of Soitec. “In addition to this business opportunity, we are
exploring the possibility of expanding our cooperation with Silian into the
field of LED lighting, leveraging Soitec’s expertise in epitaxial growth
developed by our Soitec Phoenix Labs subsidiary in Arizona.”

Chairman Xiaobo Xiang of China Silian Instruments Group, Silian’s holding
company, added, “Soitec and Silian have very attractive complementary
technologies. Therefore, we look forward to exploring with Soitec the mutual
beneficial business opportunities offered by the vast markets of materials,
LEDs, and lighting.”

Source: Soitec