#Anvil next lighting series#

That was the first time cubic gallium nitride had been grown on a standard wafer. But they gave it a go, and their expertise in growing gallium nitride meant they managed to do it. Their materials people said it couldnвЂ™t be done. We said to the University of Cambridge 2 or 3 years ago, вЂcan you try growing cubic gallium nitride on our cubic silicon-carbide wafersвЂ™? Development is the first of its typeДЄnvil Semiconductors chief executive Jill Shaw said: See other businesses that have benefitted for Innovate UK funding and support.

It is funded by Innovate UK and partners including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Development and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The projects were funded through the Energy Catalyst, which supports business and research to address major challenges in the energy sector.

#Anvil next lighting series#

Now, a series of projects have shown that it is possible to grow cubic gallium nitride on top of the cubic silicon carbide, without a marked increase in production costs - a breakthrough that could transform the LED lighting market through new efficiency, cost and performance enhancements.

It has already developed a way of building silicon carbide on to a traditional silicon base, or вЂwaferвЂ™, to make its advanced power switches for the same cost as silicon. Cutting the costДЄnvilвЂ™s innovation cuts the cost of using these compounds in LEDs. While silicon carbide and gallium nitride offer new levels of performance in LED lighting, until now their high cost has been a barrier to adoption. Like silicon carbide, it supports much higher efficiencies and outperforms silicon in speed, temperature and power handling. Gallium nitride is set to be the next big semiconductor for power electronics. It allows these devices to work at voltages up to 10 times higher, carry higher currents, work at increased temperatures and switch much faster than silicon. Silicon carbide is a type of semiconductor that is commonly used in high-endurance applications - such as car brakes and clutches - or power devices. Higher currents and temperatures, faster switchesДЄnvil SemiconductorвЂ™s innovation involves building cubic gallium nitride on top of cubic silicon-carbide technology. Power device developer Anvil Semiconductors and its partners, the University of Cambridge and Plessey Semiconductors, have come up with a way to cut the cost of LED lighting and increase its efficiency.