| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D029651/1 |
| Title: |
Diamond: a semiconductor for power devices for high temperature aerospace applications |
| Principal Investigator: |
Jackman, Professor RB |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Electronic and Electrical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
UCL |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
05 September 2005 |
Ends: |
04 January 2009 |
Value (£): |
357,779
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Electronic Devices & Subsys. |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The aerospace industry has identified a need for high power switches that can operate at 400oC, a temperature that precludes the use of conventional semiconductor materials. This need arises through the move to the 'more electric engine' which is anticipated to greatly improve aircraft efficiency over the next ten years or so. Within this context, power generation modules are to be placed inside the jet engine itself, dispensing with the mechanical drives currently used to drive external generators. The need for switches that block kV levels, whilst conducting many tens of amps for a few volts in the on-state at 400oC implies the need for wide-band gap semiconductor based devices. The properties of diamond (Eg ~5.5eV) make it the most attractive candidate for this role. Very recent dramatic improvements in the quality of single crystal diamond grown by chemical vapour deposition, and the emergence of a technique for producing n-type diamond as well as p-type make it possible to contemplate the formation of high power, high temperature bipolar devices for the first time. Here we propose to design and fabricate diamond-based insulated-gate bipolar transistors; such devices represent a considerable advance on the current state-of-the-art in diamond technology and this project, which is both timely and novel, would enhance the wider field of diamond electronics as well as producing devices with a clear ultimate application. A world-class team has been assembled for this task, namely UCL and CamSemi (device design, fabrication and test), Element Six (De Beers) (diamond growth) and CEA (diamond doping) - whilst the project is ambitious in its aims, it is quite realistic to expect success from this team.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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