News: Suppliers
12 June 2024
Crystal IS achieved 99% usable area on 100mm bulk AlN substrate
Crystal IS Inc of Green Island, NY, USA — a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei that makes proprietary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVC LEDs) — has announced serial production of 100mm-diameter single-crystal aluminium nitride (AlN) substrates with 99% usable area, based on current requirements for UVC LEDs, with manufacturing to take place in the USA. The ultra-wide bandgap and high thermal conductivity of AlN help to improve device reliability and performance in UVC LEDs and other next-generation RF and power devices.
Picture: Comparison of Crystal IS 100mm bulk AlN substrate from Q1/2024 (left) with 90% usable area and Q2/2024 (right) with 99.3% usable area.
“The improvement of our large-diameter substrate quality over the last nine months showcases the expertise of our team in Crystal Growth,” says president & CEO Eoin Connolly. “The inherent thermal benefits of aluminium nitride can enable higher-performing RF and power devices in mission-critical and telecom applications.”
This achievement follows the company’s announcement of the first-ever recorded 100mm diameter in August 2023.
Crystal IS manufactures bulk single-crystal aluminium nitride substrates, and began selling 2-inch diameter substrates for R&D in RF and power devices in late 2023. The 100mm-diameter milestone accelerates the development of new applications on AlN substrates as it integrates into existing fabrication lines for RF and power devices using alternative materials. The firm plans to offer 100mm-diameter substrates, which will be exclusively manufactured in its US facility, to key partners this year as they continue to expand beyond UVC LEDs.
