Professor Changhee Lee of Seoul National University,
Developed core technologies that reduce semiconductor processing costs by half

-Introducing inkjet-printer to the organic semiconductor processing – CMOS circuit can be produced as if it is printed.


 

Professor Changhee Lee of Seoul National University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Doctor Hyeok Kim of Korea Institute of Industrial Technology

A joint research team of Professor Changhee Lee of Seoul National University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Hyeok Kim of Korea Institute of Industrial Technology developed core technologies that can reduce semiconductor processing costs by half.

CMOS(Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) is used in the conventional semiconductor processing and n-type/p-type semiconductors are both used for the circuit production. Since the physical properties of the both semiconductors are different, they should be processed in the different substrates and also have difficulties in patterning, which leads to the increment of the processing steps. Therefore, conventional semiconductor processing has limitation since the production cost is high.   

The research team solved this problem by using bipolar semiconductors rather than using inorganic semiconductors which used in smart phones and TVs. Organic semiconductors can be used for the both n type and p type semiconductors, making complex electronic devices into one material, which can dramatically reduce the cost of the processing.

In the past, massive production was difficult since the bipolar regulation of organic semiconductors was possible only in a certain system. The research team introduced the inkjet-printing process for the semiconductor processing, makes it possible to produce CMOS circuit as if they are printed.    

Professor Changhee Lee explained, “The polarity of the organic semiconductors can be freely changed and applied to various systems by controlling the injection amount of charges, thus regulate the concentration of the charges within the semiconductors”

Doctor Hyeok Kim said, “Demand for the semiconductors is growing thanks to the development of autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things(IoT). This research would increase the utility of the organic semiconductor which is considered as next-generation semiconductor.”

This research was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea, senior researcher support project and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, industry core technology development project. The research was published online in Scientific Reports on April 12.