‘Two functions in one layer’ ... Semiconductor manufacturing costs set to fall sharply

[Financial News] South Korean researchers have developed a key technology for next-generation semiconductors that can significantly reduce production costs by cutting the number of manufacturing steps. By simplifying the complex methods used in conventional manufacturing, the technology is expected to accelerate the commercialization of flexible displays and wearable devices.
The University of Seoul announced on the 19th that a joint research team led by Professor Kim Hyeok of its Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor Lee Yong-ju of Dong-A University’s Department of Semiconductor Engineering had developed an “ambipolar thin-film transistor” that performs both types of operation (P-type and N-type) using a single mixed semiconductor layer.
Previously, making semiconductor circuits required forming separately an N-type semiconductor, which moves electrons, and a P-type semiconductor, which moves holes. This meant using a wider variety of materials and more complex manufacturing steps, driving up production costs.
The research team addressed this problem by creating a “single mixed layer” from two different organic semiconductor materials. This made it possible for one semiconductor layer to perform both functions. In particular, the team used a “solution-processing” method, applying liquid solutions to not only the semiconductor layer but also the internal insulating layer. This laid the groundwork for producing large-area semiconductors at low cost.
The research team said it optimized the mixing ratio of the two materials to ensure balanced movement of electrons and holes, and achieved better circuit performance than existing approaches.
Professor Kim Hyeok of the University of Seoul said, “This study demonstrates that both types of operation can be achieved with a single mixed organic semiconductor layer, without separately manufacturing P-type and N-type semiconductors as before, and that this approach can be extended to actual high-performance logic circuits.” The professor added, “I expect it to be widely used in flexible electronics and printed electronics, where simplified processes and low-cost, large-area manufacturing are required.”
The findings were published in the international academic journal Small. The research was conducted with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology.

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter