Imagine if we could put a high-tech chemical laboratory on a tiny computer chip. Currently, the tools needed to 'see' invisible gases are bulky and expensive because they don't fit with standard chip manufacturing. This work creates a new material recipe that lets these sensors be printed using the same factories that make computer processors.
Mid-infrared sensors for gas and health detection are currently expensive and difficult to manufacture because they cannot be made using standard silicon chip factories.
A monolithic Group-IV photonic platform using SiGeSn alloys, including GeSn light sources and photodetectors integrated on PICs.
If you are a gas sensor manufacturer dealing with high production costs for methane detectors — this project developed a group-IV photonic platform that allows sensors to be made using standard 200mm CMOS processes, reducing costs.
If you are an infrastructure operator dealing with hazardous oil and CH4 leaks — this project developed mid-infrared light sources and photodetectors that enable more precise and integrated leak detection systems.
If you are a device developer dealing with expensive, non-standard components for biological analysis — this project developed a monolithic Si-based photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for the 2-5 µm range to lower hardware costs.
By using 200mm CMOS manufacturing processes, the technology enables cost-effective solutions for sensing compared to previous non-standard fabrication methods.
Yes, the project specifically focuses on a monolithic solution compatible with state-of-the-art 200mm CMOS manufacturing, which is the industry standard for microelectronics.
Based on available project data, the consortium includes leaders in CMOS-technology for growth and processing of GeSn alloys, but specific licensing terms are not disclosed.
The platform is designed to be fully CMOS-compatible, meaning the light sources and detectors can be integrated directly into photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2027-02-28, suggesting that mature prototypes will be available toward the end of this window.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, featuring a 33% industry ratio with 3 industrial partners, including 2 SMEs specialized in gas and liquid sensing. The mix of 3 universities and 3 research organizations ensures a strong pipeline from fundamental material science (GeSn alloys) to a world-leading PIC design and test-house, reducing the gap between lab research and fab-ready technology.
Contact the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) in France.
Contact us to connect with the LASTSTEP consortium for MIR sensing integration.
