27 May 2014

Plessey further expands GaN-on-Si LED production with another Aixtron CRIUS II-XL MOCVD system

Deposition equipment maker Aixtron SE of Aachen, Germany says that Plessey Semiconductors Ltd of Plymouth, UK has purchased another CRIUS II-XL metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system for manufacturing gallium nitride LEDs on silicon wafers (GaN-on-Si) as it further expands its production capacity. The Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) system, delivered recently with a 7x6-inch configuration, will supplement an existing production system from Aixtron (delivered in July 2012).

“Our MaGIC (Manufactured on GaN-on-Si I/C) LED product in particular has been successfully launched this past year,” says Plessey’s chief technology officer Dr Keith Strickland. “As a result, we now plan to step up our production. To this end, and given our positive experience with Aixtron’s CRIUS II-XL system, we have purchased a further system of this type and are thus maintaining our successful cooperation with Aixtron,” he adds.

“CRIUS II-XL convinced us with its high throughput rates and low operating costs for GaN layer growth on 6-inch silicon substrates,” says Plessey’s operations director Mike Snaith. “Moreover, Aixtron is actively supporting us in further optimizing our production processes,” he adds.

The latest order “offers further confirmation that GaN-on-silicon, a high-performance, efficient epitaxy process, is becoming increasingly established as an alternative to growth on sapphire,” comments Dr Frank Schulte, vice president of Aixtron Europe. “The associated potential production cost savings will further promote the establishment of LED as a light source,” he adds. “Aixtron is well prepared for this market development and will also be supporting Plessey in further optimizing its GaN-on-silicon technology.”

See related items:

Plessey samples its new-generation LED GaN-on-Si mid-power LEDs

Plessey samples LEDs grown on 6” GaN-on-Si

Plessey takes delivery of Aixtron reactor for new GaN-on-Si HB-LED production line

Tags: Aixtron Plessey MOCVD GaN-on-Si HB-LEDs

Visit: www.plesseysemiconductors.com/led-plessey-semiconductors.php

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