AlixLabs wins funding from PhotonHub Europe
The company says its atomic layer etching process aims to achieve damage-free surfaces for photonic devices and is expected to result in more reliable devices with higher signal quality
AlixLabs AB, a Swedish semiconductor startup specialising in atomic layer etching (ALE), has announced its expansion into the photonics field thanks to a new research grant from the imec-led and EU-supported PhotonHub Europe. The total value of the research project is approximately €197,000, of which PhotonHub will provide €58,500, with AlixLabs itself investing €129,000.
According to AlixLabs, the R&D project with PhotonHub Europe will allow the company to work closely with the European Union’s most prolific semiconductor research hub imec, granting access to photonics equipment and technology not present at AlixLabs’ headquarters in Lund, Sweden. The company also says the project will enable it to evaluate, prototype, and benchmark its technology and processes in imec’s laboratories, qualifying them for worldwide industry use.
“Photonics is a hot topic in the future of the semiconductor industry, and we are eager to explore application of our technology in this field,” said Reza Jafari Jam, research director at AlixLabs. “We’re thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate closely with imec and tap into the vibrant hub of European semiconductor research, enhancing our capabilities in developing high-performance photonic devices. Our passionate team is looking forward to pushing the technology’s boundaries with our innovative solutions and contribute to better communication, computing and medical technologies.”
The goal of the project is to significantly enhance the performance of photonic devices, particularly ring resonators. With AlixLabs’ ALE process, which the company says allows for precise material manipulation at an atomic scale, the project aims to achieve defect- and damage-free surfaces for photonics devices. As surface quality directly contributes to better photon extraction and transmission, AlixLabs says ALE in photonics is expected to result in more reliable devices with higher signal quality and enhanced operational qualities.
PhotonHub Europe was announced in 2020 and is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. It has 54 partners and over 500 experts from 15 EU member states, all aiming to create and launch new products in industries as diverse as health, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, safety, security, space & defence, agro-food and mobility & energy.
Image credit: AlixLabs
