4/8/2025 Jackson Brunner
Written by Jackson Brunner
In a significant move to advance quantum and photonics technology, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has launched an international collaboration with multiple Taiwanese institutions to develop silicon carbide-based semiconductor devices.
The project brings together quantum technology expertise from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering with Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. At the heart of this collaboration is silicon carbide on insulator (SiCOI), a material that shows extraordinary promise for quantum technology, photonics, and power electronics.
"We are excited to collaborate with our partners in Taiwan to advance silicon carbide semiconductor technologies, enabling breakthroughs in quantum and integrated photonic devices. This partnership will drive new applications, develop a materials exchange pipeline and foster a global talent exchange," said Assistant Professor Chris Anderson, who is principal investigator for this collaborative effort and an expert in SiC quantum technology.
Anderson has already achieved several breakthroughs, including record-setting quantum coherence times and the development of nuclear spin quantum memories in silicon carbide. At Illinois, his team has developed ”quantum-grade” SiCOI materials with ultra-low surface roughness – crucial factors for quantum applications.
The international pipeline will begin with wafer production in Taiwan, leveraging the expertise of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and Taiwan Applied Crystal Inc. These wafers will then be processed at Illinois into SiCOI, utilizing advanced wafer bonding and processing tools recently acquired through the Microelectronics Commons Hubs initiative.
This collaboration comes at a crucial time, as the technology sector seeks to overcome current limitations in silicon carbide classical and quantum technology. While silicon carbide has been available for decades, researchers have struggled to effectively utilize it in integrated photonic systems. U. of I. breakthroughs in SiCOI production are helping to bridge this gap, potentially enabling a new generation of quantum technologies.
The project also includes a significant educational component, supporting international student exchanges and an intensive short course, helping to build the global workforce needed for advancing semiconductor technology.
Illinois Grainger Engineering Affiliations
Chris Anderson is an Illinois Grainger Engineering assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and is affiliated with both the Department of Physics and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is a member of the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center, the Materials Research Laboratory, the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab and the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute on Hybrid Quantum Architectures and Networks.