SEMICONDUCTOR CRYSTALLIZATION
ON COMPOSITE POLYMER SUBSTRATES:
It has been possible to put
down semiconductor films on plastic substrates using the existing
technologies but film integrity has always been a problem. We
possess a new technology that can overcome this problem by reducing
the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the plastic substrate.
This is a unique invention and a great technological advancement
that has the potential to revolutionize the entire Electronic
Industry and to create the next generation of Electronics Applications
covering a broad area of the Electronics Industry - Circuits,
Displays, Solar Cells, Energy, Medical, Defense, Space, Telecommunication,
Consumer Electronics etc. When making products using this technology,
we intend placing special emphasis on developing low cost, improved
efficiency Solar Cells as the need for Solar Power is bound to
grow due to energy shortages and environmental concerns.
We posses a broad patent in
U.S.A. on the technology and we intend developing this venture
in a country mutually acceptable to all parties involved and to
market the products worldwide.
Market Attractiveness
Since 1958, the beginning
of the integrated-circuit (IC) era, the factory sales of electronic
products have increased by about 300 times. Since 1970, IC sales
have increased 100 times to half a billion US dollars in year
2000. Now a new era for electronic circuits are beginning to emerge,
through depositing semiconductors directly on polymer substrates
and making electronic circuits on the polymer substrate. This
technology is expected to evolve over next 20-30 years, just like
the IC industry. Semiconductor on polymer technology has the potential
to address the whole of Electronic Industry namely, Display, Energy,
Defense, Space, Industrial Electronics, Telecommunication, Consumer
Electronics and Computers. Silicon on polymer products are already
addressing Solar Cell technologies (established technology) and
flat panel devices (still at early stages of product development).
Energy generation products evolve from this technology are environmentally
friendly. Environmental pollution caused by current methods of
energy production (Figure 2) is of global concern because of green
house effects and nuclear waste management problems. Governments
and global companies are taking steps to reduce such pollution.
Solar energy received by earth is 15000 times the total energy
currently being utilized. However, photovoltaic solar energy is
very much under utilized (less than 0.2% of total energy consumption)
because of high cost of solar products in spite of heavy subsidization
of photovoltaic technology by governments. This situation is now
changing (Figure 3)
A Revolution in the
Electronic Industry
Based on our market, industry and technology surveys, we strong
believe that the invention of our patented technology involving
Temperature Compensated Substrate Properties - TCSP, has the potential
to revolutionize the Electronic Industry.
A market leader in
the next generation of electronics applications
- It will lead the way to develop the next generation of electronic
applications covering a broad area of electronic industry including
Solar Cells, Circuits, and Displays.
Solar Cells
- Currently, one of the most promising applications appears to
be in the photovoltaic solar energy generation. We have already
shown the feasibility of using our technology to produce low cost,
improved efficiency, polysilicon (polycrystalline silicon) on
polymer solar cell.
Market for Solar Cells
- The need for utilization of solar power will continue to be
important because of energy shortage and environmental concerns.
- Environmental pollution caused by current methods of energy
production is of global concern because of green house effects
and nuclear waste management problems.
- The market for photovoltaic solar products is showing a strong
upside potential (Annual Growth Rate AGR >25%) mainly due to
ever increasing energy requirements and environmental awareness.
- Photovoltaic solar energy has been very much under utilized
(less than 0.2% of the total energy consumption) because of high
cost of solar products in spite of heavy subsidization of photovoltaic
technology by the government.
- The use of our patented technology will result in improved efficiency
and lower cost of production leading to a rapid increase in customer
acceptance of the use of solar energy. This trend will not only
mitigate some of the existing energy shortage, it will also positively
impact the environment and may help to reduce or replace some
of the other hazardous and environmentally unfriendly energy generation
schemes.
- The global market for solar
cells are expected to reach over $5 billion by year 2007. A 30%
share of this potential $5 billion market can lead to a sales
figure of $1.5 billion and EFO of $400 million.
Market for Display
Devices:
- Semiconductor on polymer technology can also lead to products
that have the potential to take market share from the current
Glass Flat Panel Displays. A major disadvantage of glass is its
brightness and non-flexibility.
- By year 2010, the display market is expected reach $100 billion
(Figure 4). Half of this market is expected to be in flat panel
display technologies.
- The newly introduced LLT based display devices can potentially
compete with flat panel display products addressing a market predicted
to reach $50 billion by year 2010.
- Both LLT based and Flat Panel based products show relatively
inferior electronic properties. Our patented TCSP technology has
clear advantages over both these technologies.
- A 30% share for polymer products of the potential $50 billion
market can lead to a sales figure of $ 15 billion and EFO of $4
billion.
Our Strategies
Stage
1 - Niche Market:
- Initially we are proposing a niche market for the semiconductor
on polymer products, which would involve production of semiconductor
on polymer substrates
- These products will then be used by industries and universities
for research and development of devices.
- We expect this to be an approximately $10 million business with
EFO of one million by year 2007.
- This project will be a stepping-stone for a much larger business
in the application regime.
Stage 2 - Electronic
Applications:
- Two of the main areas covered in stage 2 will be:
a). Solar Cells
b). Flat Panel Displays
Product Development
Plan
Stage 1
In the initial stages of product development, emphasis would be
made to:
- Improve properties
- Reduce cost of production
- Increase yield (better than 90%)
As most of the preliminary testing work has already been performed,
we do not anticipate any major hurdles at this stage.
Stage 2
During this stage we expect to:
- Optimize product properties by exploring several low temperature
semiconductor deposition techniques such as Chemical Vapor Deposition
(CVD) and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD).
- Optimize laser annealing to further improve properties.
- Optimize substrate properties by evaluating different polymers
and fillers and their relative compositions.
- Cost of production and product yield will be further improved
by selecting low cost materials and optimizing substrate fabrication
process.
- Three Beta testing sites (Universities and Industries) will
be selected to test the samples for device acceptability. These
sites will be required to evaluate the products and to build and
characterize devices. This evaluation and characterization process
will ultimately determine the product suitability for commercialization.
During the early part of development
cycle all fabrication processes will be out-sourced. Laser annealing
will be one of the first processes to be brought in house and
this will be followed soon by some of the substrate fabrication
work. Once the business is stabilized, all the fabrication processes
also may be brought in house.
The products will be advertised
and demonstrated at electronic device and product conferences
and exhibitions. They also will be demonstrated and sold by direct
contact with the potential customers.
For more information, please write to invest@GBNweb.com
