Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: SEMATECH and Centrotherm Partner to Develop Low Temperature Processes for Future CMOS and Memory Devices: Joint effort to extend the technology roadmap for enabling process technologies

Home > Press > SEMATECH and Centrotherm Partner to Develop Low Temperature Processes for Future CMOS and Memory Devices: Joint effort to extend the technology roadmap for enabling process technologies

Abstract:
SEMATECH today announced that centrotherm thermal solutions, a 100 percent subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics AG and a developer of process tools and high-tech production systems for the manufacture of semiconductor components, has joined its Front End Processes (FEP) program, and will work with SEMATECH to develop new low temperature processing techniques for future high-performance logic and memory devices.

SEMATECH and Centrotherm Partner to Develop Low Temperature Processes for Future CMOS and Memory Devices: Joint effort to extend the technology roadmap for enabling process technologies

Albany, NY | Posted on April 10th, 2012

Continued scaling will require new materials and new device concepts that necessitate lower thermal budget process flows. For example, to enable the introduction of high mobility semiconductors as the channel material of transistors, low temperature processes are critical to preserve the beneficial properties of channel materials. Similarly, advanced memory technologies require superior isolation as well as low thermal budget oxidation approaches - especially for metal oxide RRAM devices. Plasma-based processing techniques offer an attractive approach to help realize such low-thermal budget processes to enable the integration of new materials into emerging device technologies.

As a member of this program, centrotherm will closely collaborate with experts from SEMATECH's FEP research team, to develop plasma-based low temperature techniques using SEMATECH test structures. The goal of this team would be to demonstrate their applicability towards usage in high performance logic transistors and memory devices in sub 14 nm advanced technology nodes.

"SEMATECH provides centrotherm with an excellent test device and characterization platform to help centrotherm identify and demonstrate applications for our tool," said Peter Augustin, CEO of centrotherm thermal solutions GmbH & Co. KG. "This collaboration will enable centrotherm to showcase low temperature processing capabilities to our customers and is part of our focus program to expand our Semiconductors & Microelectronics area."

"SEMATECH is pleased to welcome centrotherm as a partner," said Raj Jammy, SEMATECH's vice president of emerging technologies. "centrotherm's unique expertise in thermal solutions will complement our own device and process expertise. We will work together to develop practical and promising manufacturable solutions to address the emerging needs of the advanced transistor and memory markets."

The goal of SEMATECH's FEP program is to provide novel leading-edge materials, processes, structural modules and electrical and physical characterization methods to support the continued scaling of logic and memory applications.

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About SEMATECH
SEMATECH®, the international consortium of leading semiconductor device, equipment, and materials manufacturers, this year celebrates 25 years of excellence in accelerating the commercialization of technology innovations into manufacturing solutions. Through our unwavering commitment to foster collaboration across the nanoelectronics industry, we help our members and partners address critical industry transitions, drive technical consensus, pull research into the industry mainstream, improve manufacturing productivity, and reduce risk and time to market.

About centrotherm

centrotherm thermal solutions GmbH & Co. KG, a 100% subsidiary of centrotherm photovoltaics AG, develop processes and high-tech production systems for the manufacture of semiconductor components. In addition to the processes and technology,

centrotherm’s core area of expertise also covers the construction and design of products. They find use in a wide range of thermally-activated processes in various technologies and applications (e.g. power semiconductors, LEDs, micromechanics, MEMS, sensor technology).

centrotherm photovoltaics AG, which is based at Blaubeuren, Germany, is one of the world's leading technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector. The company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants with turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture silicon, ingots and bricks, crystalline solar cells and modules, and thin film modules. As a consequence, the Group possesses a broad and well-founded technological basis, as well as key equipment at practically all steps of the photovoltaics value chain. centrotherm photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance parameters such as production capacity, efficiencies, and completion deadlines. The Group employs around 1,900 staff (31.12.2011), and operates globally in Europe, Asia and the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2011 financial year of around EUR 700 million. The company is listed in the TecDAX index on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

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Contacts:
SEMATECH
Erica McGill
518-649-1041

centrotherm:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898