26 March 2014

Quantum Semiconductor and Silvaco collaborate on modeling Si-Ge-C superlattices

Quantum Semiconductor LLC of San Jose, CA, USA (a privately held company developing devices that expand what silicon can do with light) and Silvaco Inc of Santa Clara, CA, USA, a provider of technology computer-aided design (TCAD), circuit simulation and IC CAD electronic design automation (EDA) software tools, have announced a collaboration to develop TCAD models for Si-based superlattices. The TCAD tools and engineering support provided by Silvaco led to the US National Science Foundation (NSF) last year awarding Quantum Semiconductor $180,000 in follow-on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1B funding (‘SiGeC Superlattices with Direct Bandgaps for Light Emission and Absorption at 1.55 Micron’).

Quantum Semi says that its technology platform addresses some of the most challenging problems currently facing CMOS. Si-Ge-C superlattice films, which have radically improved optoelectronic properties, enable highly efficient light absorption and emission across an extended wavelength range, from ultraviolet (UV) to mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR). Through their collaboration, Quantum Semiconductor and Silvaco aim to incorporate new electronic band-structure models of the Si-based superlattices into Silvaco’s TCAD tools, which will be used to perform advanced device simulations.

“Our vision is to bring new functionality to CMOS by incorporating Si-Ge-C superlattices which allow the efficient absorption and emission of light from UV to visible to infrared, enabling new products for image sensing, optical communications, silicon photonics, wide-spectrum photovoltaic cells and even advanced tunnel MOSFETS,” says Quantum Semiconductor’s chief technology officer Carlos Augusto. “To enable the adoption of these new superlattices into CMOS design and manufacturing, new models must be developed to describe their properties,” he adds. “With Silvaco, we can accelerate the investigation and verification of modeling and optimization for Si-Ge-C superlattices combined with CMOS.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Quantum Semiconductor and develop new physical models allowing the use of Si-Ge-C superlattice films in our TCAD flow,” says Eric Guichard, VP of the TCAD Division at Silvaco. “We expect that this partnership will enable Silvaco to provide additional unique solutions to our customers working on the next generation of optoelectronic devices which incorporate these novel superlattice materials.”

Tags: Silvaco

Visit: www.silvaco.com

Visit: www.quantumsemi.com

Visit: www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1315902