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UK researchers unveil cheaper chip manufacture method
7 July 2006
UK researchers say they have found a cheaper and more energy-efficient way to make computer chips.
Engineers at UCL have found a way to use ultraviolet (UV) light instead of furnaces to create the silicon dioxide insulation layer on computer chips.
The breakthrough could lead to big energy savings for chip makers and ultimately lower prices for customers. …
Chip makers currently bake silicon wafers in furnaces at up to 1,000 degrees centigrade to create the necessary silicon dioxide layer.
UCL engineers have found a way to speed up the dioxide creation at room temperature using UV lamps. …
UCL said it could take several years before the technology was ready for commercial use however, as further testing was necessary. …
Antony Savvas, 'Computer Weekly'
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