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| Professor Barry Harrison and Professor Sima Dimitrijev with prototype memory chips Photo courtesy Griffith University |
A new type of silicon carbide chip being developed by Griffith University promises to revolutionise mobile phones and palm computer devices by dramatically increasing their capacity.
The new chips are expected to be around a thousand times more powerful than those currently used in these devices.
The university’s new Queensland Microtechnology Facility (QMF) believes the commercialisation of silicon carbide chips will generate millions of export income dollars.
Computer chips are integrated circuits, such as microprocessors or memory chips.
Professor Sima Dimitrijev heads the technical division of the project.
As well as obvious uses in mobile phones and palm computers, the new chips might also have applications for use in space and for high power devices, because they are radiation resistant and can operate in temperatures above 100 degrees Centigrade.
The silicon carbide chip technology is subject to patent applications by
the university and it will be developed at the $10 million QMF, which is being
constructed at Griffith’s Nathan Campus in Brisbane.
The facility, which will be completed early in 2006, will house new semi-conductor
equipment that is being acquired through a $3 million Smart State Research
Facilities Fund grant.
“Griffith University and Australia are set to benefit greatly from the QMF, which will also be a major focus for postgraduate research programs, bringing together some of the best minds under the one roof,” Professor Barry Harrison, director of the new facility, said.
Professor Harrison said the facility would be the only one of its kind in the world, featuring multiple “clean spaces” for chip fabrication.
Griffith Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor said researchers from the university had entered the field of silicon carbide electronics in 1997.
“At the time, research worldwide was drifting away from silicon carbide but our Griffith researchers made major discoveries that re-invigorated research in the area,” he said.
“The unique properties of silicon carbide will see it evolve as the
only real alternative to silicon for memory applications in the near future,
so these discoveries will have a major world impact.
“The facility’s development supports the university’s mission
to become a leading world-class research institution within the Queensland
Smart State initiative.
“The facility’s research is innovative and groundbreaking and it also has a very exciting and potentially rewarding commercial bias.”
Last reviewed 19 January 2006