News: Optoelectronics
20 December 2022
Ganvix and BluGlass to co-develop green GaN-based VCSELs
Early-stage startup company Ganvix Inc of Wilmington, DE, USA – which specializes in developing nanoporous gallium nitride (NP-GaN) vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) – and BluGlass Ltd of Silverwater, Australia – which has developed proprietary low-temperature, low-hydrogen remote-plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) technology for manufacturing devices such as laser diodes, next-generation LEDs and micro-LEDs – have entered into a development agreement to combine their complementary technologies to create GaN VCSELs operating in the green region (515–525nm) of the optical spectrum.
GaN VCSEL devices have been long sought after but have not reached commercial maturity due to material growth and processing challenges. Two critical components of a VCSEL – the distributed Bragg mirrors (DBR) and active quantum well (QW) region – are more challenging to fabricate in GaN than for gallium arsenide (GaAs)-based VCSELs, which have seen significant commercial success operating in infrared wavelengths.
In the collaboration, Ganvix will leverage its proprietary VCSEL architecture based on nanoporous technology to facilitate the fabrication of DBRs. Ganvix has demonstrated this technology in GaN VCSEL devices operating at blue wavelengths and has completed the design and demonstrated the DBRs for green wavelengths. BluGlass will bring its expertise in RPCVD and green active QW design to grow the green QW and laser active region. The combined technology will be commercialized by Ganvix, completing a line of VCSEL products across blue to green wavelengths.
The target markets include consumer electronics, industrial, medical and life sciences, communications, and metaverse applications such as augmented reality (AR). Near-term applications include VCSEL-based light engines for laser scanning displays, lasers, and laser arrays for free-space and polymer fiber-based communications.
“We see many applications for these devices but, until now, limitations on materials have prevented commercialization,” says Ganvix’s CEO John Fijol. “The combination of our nanoporous materials, which we demonstrated earlier this year for blue VCSELs, and BluGlass’ RPCVD-grown GaN provide a path to finally bring green GaN VCSEL to market,” he adds.
“BluGlass’ unique RPCVD technology provides an ideal solution to increase performance and brightness for green-wavelength lasers,” comments BluGlass’ president Jim Haden.
Ganvix partners with BluGlass to develop green GaN VCSELs
Ganvix and ITRI sign phase II deal extending JV to commercialize blue-green laser technology
