Imagine a tiny chip that acts like a super-fast translator between light and radio waves. By using a special layer of graphene, it can handle massive amounts of data without the signal getting 'fuzzy' or unstable. It's like upgrading a narrow dirt road to a multi-lane superhighway for wireless signals.
Current sub-THz wireless communication suffers from high phase noise and unstable carrier frequencies. This prevents the reliable distribution of multi Gbit/s signals needed for 6G and high-resolution radar.
A monolithic electronic and photonic integrated circuit (EPIC) featuring a graphene photonic frequency mixer and SiGe BiCMOS electronics for signal amplification.
If you are a network operator dealing with massive traffic growth in next-gen networks — this project developed a monolithic chip that enables multi Gbit/s radio signals. It provides a scalable building block for high-speed radio backhaul links and massive MIMO antennas.
If you are a car parts supplier dealing with the need for precise object detection — this project developed a sub-THz frequency mixer for short-distance high-resolution RADAR sensing. This allows for better in-cabin monitoring and external short-range radar.
If you are a chip maker dealing with the high power consumption and size of current sub-THz components — this project developed a graphene photonic integrated circuit with power consumption <50mW and a footprint <500x500µm2.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or unit costs are not provided; however, the technology focuses on low power consumption (<50mW) to reduce operational costs.
The project utilizes wafer-scale graphene photonic technology and SiGe BiCMOS electronics, which are standard industrial semiconductor processes, suggesting a path toward scalability.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project involves a consortium of 10 partners including 3 industry players.
The approach is compatible with fiber optical core links, allowing for seamless integration into fiber back-bones and optical/radio convergence.
The project period runs from 2022-10-01 to 2026-03-31, indicating that the technology is currently in the development and testing phase.
The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, consisting of 10 partners across 6 countries. With a 30% industry ratio (3 industrial partners, including 1 SME), the project bridges the gap between academic research (3 universities, 4 research centers) and commercial application, specifically targeting the semiconductor and telecom sectors.
Contact the Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni in Italy.
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for graphene-based sub-THz components.
