£7m awarded to University of Sheffield for materials discovery
The University of Sheffield has won a £7 million investment from the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPRSC) to fund new MBE equipment for the discovery and development of new semiconductor materials.
Equipment will be part of the National Epitaxy Facility – a major research facility hosted by Sheffield, in collaboration with the universities of Cambridge and UCL, which was recognised as a critical element of the UK’s semiconductor R&D strategy.
The system will have leading-edge data collection tools and will support research that mixes materials to create new device concepts. It will also use AI to accelerate the discovery and development of new semiconductor materials.
One of the focuses of the equipment will be seeking out new semiconductors made from earth-abundant materials such as zinc, aluminium and nitrogen.
Jon Heffernan, professor in electrical engineering at the University of Sheffield and director of the National Epitaxy Facility, said: “Semiconductors are vitally important as they power the technologies and infrastructure that modern society is built on. The recent global shortage, which saw many popular consumer electronics disappear from retailers and cause prices to surge, gave us an indication of what can happen if we don’t have a secure supply.
“The National Epitaxy Facility we host at Sheffield is a key part of the UK’s capabilities in semiconductor R&D and the MBE system can help the UK become a world leader by enabling the discovery of new materials and the optimisation of existing semiconductors for the future of the technology.
“I am delighted to see the EPSRC continue to support and recognise the importance of semiconductor materials research as a driver of innovation and economic value in the UK. This investment will allow us to continue our 45 year legacy of supporting the vibrant UK semiconductor research community with advanced materials and devices development.”
Sue Hartley, VP for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am really pleased to see this level of investment in the National Epitaxy Facility, which is such a crucial part of semiconductor research throughout the UK, not just at Sheffield. The new equipment will support the UK’s world class innovation ecosystem and its position as a global leader at a critical time when countries around the world are considering their own semiconductor capabilities as this technology becomes ever more important.”
