Electronics

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology have reported a self-aligned laser transfer (SALT) based on directional photothermal regulation strategies that enables high-precision, programmable transfer of microchips without the need of precise laser-to-die alignment. 

Schematic illustration of the stamp with TCGC: (i) Schematic of the self-aligned mechanism of TCGC. (ii) Conversion of an asymmetric light intensity input to an even heat output by TCGC. (iii) Composition of TCGC: the upper layer is graphene with ordered atomic arrangement and high phonon transport efficiency; the lower layer is amorphous carbon with disordered atomic structure and low phonon transport efficiency. (iv) Schematic of thermal homogenization by light absorption and directional heat conduction through TCGC. Image from: Light: Science & Applications

The key innovation lies in the introduction of a special photothermal conversion material - thermal conductivity gradient carbon (TCGC). The TCGC can be prepared using a UV excimer laser to induce confined, self-limited carbonization of polyimide (PI), which naturally creates a gradient distribution of graphitization degree, with graphene (Gr) layer at the top and amorphous carbon (AC) layer at the bottom. 

The Horizon Europe project L2D2, funded by the European Innovation Council, has announced technical achievements that "could reshape the future of silicon photonics, semiconductor manufacturing, and high-speed data communications". The project has developed a laser-based, single-step and solvent-free digital process for transferring graphene and other 2D materials onto CMOS-compatible and silicon photonics wafers up to 8 inches. This innovation, known as Laser Digital Transfer (LDT), addresses one of the most persistent bottlenecks in 2D materials integration: enabling selective, clean and defect-free, compatible with industrial upscaling.

L2D2 brings together leading research and industry partners - National Technical University of Athens (coordinator), Graphenea Semiconductor, NVIDIA Mellanox, Bar-Ilan University, and Exelixis Research Management & Communication - combining deep expertise in materials science, semiconductor engineering, and exploitation strategy.

Paragraf has announced the successful production of its first 6-inch wafer at a newly opened manufacturing site in Huntingdon. The development marks a step forward in scaling graphene technology for commercial applications.

The wafer incorporates graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) created using Paragraf’s proprietary process, which grows graphene directly on silicon substrates. This approach is believed to be the first demonstration of GFETs on silicon at this size using a direct-growth method, representing a major advancement for scalable graphene electronics.

Paragraf, the UK-based company commercializing graphene-based electronics using standard semiconductor processes, has announced an expansion of its product offerings with the introduction of a GFET Discovery Kit.

The Discovery Kit, which provides molecular sensing researchers the ability to process samples immediately, is now available. The kit provides an easy-to-assemble platform for molecular sensing experiments. By integrating Paragraf’s GFET-PV01 devices with a PalmSens EmStat Pico MUX16 data acquisition system and pre-configured accessories, the Discovery Kit removes the complexity of hardware selection, wiring and setup that typically slows down laboratory exploration.

Archer  Materials has announced a collaboration agreement with Emergence Quantum, a quantum innovation company supporting some of the world’s leading quantum companies, including IONQ (NYSE: IONQ) and others.  

Under  the  agreement,  Emergence  Quantum  will  help  Archer  develop  a  strategic  technology program to guide joint research, development, and commercialization of next-generation quantum materials and devices. The goal is to turn scientific discoveries into practical technologies with real-world impact, focusing on graphene and related carbon materials to enable new device designs and innovative applications in quantum and advanced 
electronics. 

Researchers from Kiel University have reported a previously unknown effect in graphene. Dr. Jan-Philip Joost and Professor Michael Bonitz showed, for the first time, that light pulses can generate electrons at specific designated locations in the material. To investigate how electrons move and interact, they simulated the effects of laser pulses on small graphene clusters. Their results could open up new approaches for nanoelectronics.

Ultrashort laser pulses can act like light switches on the nanoscale, switching electrons on and off at precisely defined spots within femtoseconds. When a pulse strikes a graphene cluster, electrons gather at one edge. A second pulse can generate electrons almost instantly at a different site. The researchers can steer the electrons with high precision, like a traffic signal guiding them where to go.

Researchers from several institutions. including the University of Nottingham, University of Warwick and Diamond Light Source, have developed a novel approach to controlling structural defects in graphene, enhancing its functionality for a range of technological applications.

Using a one-step chemical vapor deposition process, the scientists have grown graphene films from azupyrene - a molecule designed to mimic the defects known as Stone-Wales defects, which consist of adjacent five- and seven-membered carbon rings instead of graphene’s typical six-membered arrangement. By adjusting the growth temperature on a copper substrate, the concentration of these defects can be precisely controlled: higher temperatures yield graphene closer to its ideal, defect-free lattice, while lower temperatures facilitate the intentional inclusion of defects.

A recent review by researchers at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Universitu of Barcelona provides an overview of an emerging class of carbon nanomaterials: nanoporous graphenes (NPGs). The work highlights how these structures, conceived as two-dimensional arrays of laterally bonded graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), could transform the future of nanoelectronics and spintronics.

Built through bottom-up on-surface synthesis, this approach enables atomic precision in assembling carbon nanoarchitectures, offering tunable electronic and magnetic properties. While GNRs have long been central to nanoelectronics due to their semiconducting and π-conjugated characteristics, NPGs extend their functionality by providing an intrinsic platform to regulate electronic coupling between adjacent ribbons. This feature allows for the controlled emergence of quantum anisotropy, where electrical conduction varies according to direction.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has announced it is preparing to move its silicon-graphene composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries into mass production, a step that could extend the range of electric vehicles and improve battery performance in consumer electronics.

Silicon has long been regarded as a promising alternative to graphite, the standard anode material in lithium-ion batteries, because it can store roughly 10 times more energy. But its tendency to swell and crack during charging cycles, coupled with low electrical conductivity, has limited its use. Researchers at the government-funded institute said they had overcome those hurdles by combining silicon with graphene. In the composite, graphene forms a mesh-like coating around silicon particles, reducing structural degradation and improving stability.

UK-based Paragraf, a company focused on producing graphene-based electronics with standard semiconductor processes, has secured $55 million in a Series C funding round. The funding was led by the United Arab Emirates' sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala.

The funds will reportedly be used to scale manufacturing capabilities for its graphene-based electronics.The funding will speed up the scaling of Paragraf’s manufacturing capabilities and increase production capacity, paving the way for graphene electronics to enter mass markets.