UCL in the News: Cheaper Chips with Lights
27 May 2007
Researchers at UCL have found a way to use UV light instead of energy-hungry blast furnaces to create the important silicon dioxide insulation layer on PC chips.
The UK researchers have made the process work by using energy-efficient UV lamps, providing a cleaner and significantly less expensive solution. …
Much testing remains, so it could be several years before the technology is ready for commercial use, says Professor Ian Boyd [UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering]. Some chip manufacturers have expressed interest in the research work, Boyd says, but chipmakers are famously conservative about making changes to their manufacturing processes.
James Niccolai, 'CIO India'