Cardiff University opens £4m cleanroom
Refurbished 225 sq m facility is part of the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster
The Institute for Compound Semiconductor (ICS) at Cardiff University has opened a refurbished 225 sq m cleanroom.
Located in the Queen’s Building, the ICS cleanroom has completed a £600,000 refit to improve room conditioning in preparation for new equipment. The programme included:
- temperature and humidity control
- compressed dry air supply
- vacuum
- liquid nitrogen supply
- process gas extract and scrubbing
- ozone extract
- electrical power supplies.
In addition, ICS has invested in new equipment to bring a small area to 6-inch fabrication capability online, with support from both the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Welsh Government via European Regional Development Funds totalling £3.3m.
The refurbished 225 square metre cleanroom will play a key role in assisting businesses across South Wales as part of CS Connected – the world’s first Compound Semiconductor cluster.
ICS will see further improvements, including state-of-art laboratory space and an increased 8-inch fabrication capability, when it moves into the new Translational Research Facility on Maindy Road, part of Cardiff Innovation Campus.
Peter Smowton, director of the Institute of Compound Semiconductors said: “The ICS provides cutting-edge facilities that help researchers and industry work together to translate the science into a commercial production environment and the cleanroom is a critical part of that. Many advances in our daily lives depend upon compound semiconductor (CS) technology. The EPSRC funding allows ICS and its partner companies to continue to develop technology that enables emerging trends, such as self-drive vehicles and 5G communications."
ICS turns its laboratory research into products and services by working with commercial partners to lead in developing one of the world’s key enabling technologies and along with the Compound Semiconductor Centre; a joint business venture with Cardiff-based IQE which forms part of CS Connected.
Cleanroom manager, Angela Sobiesierski, commented: “The upgrade and new equipment has transformed the ICS cleanroom into a robust, fit for purpose facility that is well placed to meet the requirements of Academic driven research projects and also meet the demands of our commercial customers and project partners."
