Like chipmaking giants Intel, SamsungAnd TSMC See a future where major parts of silicon Transistor Is replaced with Semiconductor These are only some atoms thick. Although he has reported progress towards that goal, the future is usually considered. More than a decadeNow A startup exits MIT Thinks that it has cracked the code to make commercial-scal 2D semiconductor, And hopefully chipmakers would have integrated them into advanced chips at that time.

CDIMEration has developed a process to grow Molibdenum dislike (MOS₂),, A 2D semiconductor, at low-loving temperatures on silicon that it will not damage the underlying silicone circuit. This can allow the integration of layers of 2D transistors above the existing silicon circuit and eventually Multi-level 3D chips made From 2D device.

“Many people think 2D semiconductor There is something that is still in the laboratory, “CDIMENESION CEO and co-founder says Jiadi Zhu“But CDIMENESION has a proprietary tool designed for 2D content growth … and we have addressed very important [2D materials] Problem Regarding wafer-scale uniformity, about device performance and variation, about device reliability, and compatibility with silicone manufacturing processes. Taken together, 2D semiconductor is ready to enter an industrial phase of development, they say.

Most of the plans of CDIMENS hinges on an ownership process that uses to develop the same layer of MOS₂ On silicon and other substrates at only 200 ° C in the entire 300 millimeters wafers. 2D is created by content Chemical vaporIn which evaporated precursor chemicals react to coat it on a surface. But usually the temperature requires above 1000 ° C for reactions to create 2D content. This is so high that it will damage any underlying structures required to create a transistor. Today, researchers collect 2D semiconductor separately and get it around that problem and then it is delicately transferred to one. Silicon waferBut the system of CDIMEration can correct the material on the silicon wafer without loss.

2D semiconductor business

Currently, a part of the startup business is to ship silicone wafers with 2D content, so that customers can evaluate it and manufacture equipment. Alternatively, customers can send wafers that have already been processed so that they have silicone circuits or structures on them. CDIMES may then develop MOS₂ Or other 2D materials that send back to customers, so that they can integrate a layer of 2D devices with their silicone circuit.

A test wafer made with the process of CDIMEration sits under a microscope.Marginal

The latter may be the first industrial entry of the 2D semiconductor. “We are showing possibilities with silicon plus 2D content,” Zhu says. “But 2D content can also be used for excessive scale logic devices. This may be the next step.”

Like chipmakers Intel, SamsungAnd TSMC Research for the purpose of replacing silicon Nanoset In their future transistors with mos₂ And on other 2D semiconductor IEEE International Electron Device Meeting In December 2024. At the same conference, Zhu and their colleagues from IEEE Fellow’s MIT laboratories Tomus palasios And Jing kong Showed that Low temperature synthesis can produce mos₂ Transistor For many stacked channels, for Nanoset transistor,

A major inspiration to go with 2D semiconductors is to reduce power consumption, says Zhu. When they (dynamic strength) and when they are on closed (static power), both transistors lose power. Because it is only 0.6 nanometer thick, 2D transistors have properties that can allow them to operate using about half a voltage of today’s silicone devices, which saves dynamic power. When they are closed, it happens Leakage current You have to worry the most. But moss₂ There is a bandgap that exceeds the value of silicon, which means that it takes too much energy for charge to leak in the device. Zhu says that the equipment created using CDIMEration materials is eaten at least one thousandth as the energy of silicone devices.

In addition to mos₂Which is an electron-compacting (N-type) semiconductor, also provides startup Tungsten Disarray, A P-type semiconductorAlso 2D insulating movies, such as Hexagonal boron nitrideIf 2D semiconductors will need a complete combination to handle anytime in the future CMOS Chips.