Compound Semiconductor Centre Ltd

Compound Semiconductor Centre is focused on the commercialisation of compound semiconductor materials and device innovations. We are involved in Indium Phosphide photonics for communications, RF and power devices using Gallium Nitride, and Gallium Arsenide devices for 3D sensing and Quantum Tech.

Founded in 2015, The Compound Semiconductor Centre (CSC) is a joint venture between IQE plc and Cardiff University to underpin the creation of a unique capability for emerging technologies based on Compound Semiconductor (CS) materials.

CSC is co-located with IQE plc in St Mellons, Cardiff, UK, in facilities which house 15 Compound Semiconductor MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition) volume reactors and 5 CVD Si/Ge deposition reactors. This collective capability represents an investment of in excess of £35M in epitaxial growth and characterisation equipment.

CSC provides a complete capability chain from research and development through product and process innovation to large-scale manufacturing via IQE’s global facilities.

Since 2016, CSC has secured twenty-seven collaborative research projects (2021) with total value of >£80M across all partners.

With a focus on:

• High performance opto-electronic components for telecommunications; and datacommunications applications;
• Infra Red detector structures for imaging and sensing applications;
• Structures for RF and Power electronics applications; and
• Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) epitaxial technology;

CSC offers:

• Collaborative research and innovation services based on the development of novel CS materials and structures;
• Commercial supply of ‘early-stage’ CS epitaxial materials and structures based on GaAs (Gallium Arsenide), InP (Indium Phoshide) and GaN (Gallium Nitride) material systems; and
• Brokerage to CS device chip-scale fabrication and packaging services.

 

In collaboration with the Institute of Compound Semiconductors (ICS) at Cardiff University, CSC provides:

• Fabrication and prototyping of novel CS device technology; and
• Access to device characterisation facilities and expertise.

In  collaboration with IQE plc, CSC provides:

• A direct and efficient route to scale-up to volume manufacturing services; and
• Commercialisation services such as market assessment, manufacturability advice and volume CS materials process development.