Oxford Instruments celebrates MBE collaboration strength with the University of Manchester

A new laboratory in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester houses the most advanced compound semiconductor material growth system in the UK thanks to Oxford Instruments. The V100 MBE system, which was donated as part of the MBE facility collaboration, is now fully operational and being used to advance MBE techniques in applications such as very high frequency communications, including wireless and mobile telephony.

The state-of-the-art V100 system, which can grow on 6-inch substrates, is an addition to the facility’s existing V90H reactor and provides one of the highest process stabilities in the world and greater capacity, uniformity and throughput than most other MBE systems.

As an illustration to Oxford Instruments’ continued commitment to developments in MBE, they have recently agreed to invest £240,000 over a three-year period, which will help to fund the ongoing costs of the new laboratories, characterisation equipment. Oxford Instruments is also supporting the research programme with the appointment of Dr Colin Mitchell as the Oxford Instruments Research Associate at the laboratory. Dr Mitchell previously worked for Hyundai Semiconductor Europe before moving back to Manchester as an industrial research assistant working on process development for an ‘electronic nose’ as well as research into new low-pressure deposition methods.
 
Dr Colin Mitchell said, “This facility is regarded as one of the best in the country for research and we provide material for research institutes and industry worldwide. We can provide a full process from initial design, materials growth and characterisation, all the way to device fabrication and testing. This enables us to provide a unique service to industry, investigating growth solutions for their devices, and using our experience and knowledge to demonstrate how to fully utilise the impressive capabilities of Oxford Instruments’ growth systems. I am excited to have joined this institution and be part of such a highly credible team. I will be working closely with Oxford Instruments and look forward to an exciting future.”    

The team at the University of Manchester are currently using the V100 in their research on high-speed low-noise transistors, and for developing Quantum Dot and Quantum Cascade lasers and photodetectors for infrared applications. The facility has also ‘spun-off’ an ISO9001:2000 certified company (ICS Ltd) for the commercial supply of material grown on the V90H. Material supplied from ICS is used in the ‘Adaptive Cruise Control’ car-radar systems fitted to BMW and Jaguar cars. Such technology demonstrates the huge benefits of the partnership between high-technology British industry and a leading UK research university.

The collaboration is headed by Professor Mohamed Missous, Chair of Semiconductor Materials and Devices at the University of Manchester. Professor Missous commented on this project, “We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Oxford Instruments ever further.  This is a very exciting time for this collaboration, which brings together a unique combination of manufacturing and research capability. Together we can address cutting-edge applications and continue to push the boundaries in compound semiconductors”.

The facility functions as an applications laboratory for Oxford Instruments’ customers where test samples are grown using the MBE equipment, facilitating a diversity of future applications.

One aim of the collaboration, now in its twelfth year, is to continually research and develop materials, devices and subsystems facilitating the next generation of integrated communication components. Together with leading technology housed in a research centre of excellence, they support and meet the demanding needs of the innovative compound semiconductor market.