Archer Materials will access GlobalFoundries’ facilities and manufacturing processes to identify pathways for high-volume manufacturing of 12CQ chip devices and components.Archer Materials (ASX: AXE) has teamed-up with GlobalFoundries to work towards industry fabrication of its 12CQ quantum chip (12CQ chip) technology.
Described as a world-leading semiconductor foundry GlobalFoundries is providing Archer with “expertise, equipment, and manufacturing processes” to further develop its 12CQ chip qubit technology.
Commenting on the agreement with GlobalFoundries, Archer chief executive officer Dr Mohammad Choucair said the company was now positioned to leverage GlobalFoundries’ capabilities to “accelerate development” of this technology.
Archer’s goal is to ensure its qubit materials are suitable for industrial-scale semiconductor nanofabrication, with the materials to then be incorporated in mobile-compatible devices.
To boost the fabrication its 12CQ chip devices and components, Archer recognised it needed to collaborate with industrial-scale manufacturers in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Under today’s announced agreement, Archer has access to GlobalFoundries’ facilities and manufacturing processes to help identify pathways for high-volume manufacturing of the 12CQ chip devices and components.
Dr Choucair noted that current quantum computing qubit components are reliant on custom fabrication. This compares to traditional computing circuits that are manufactured in established industrial semiconductor facilities.
He added integrating qubit materials with industrial-scale foundries is a “significant challenge” in developing quantum processors.
Archer is the only ASX-listed entity, and one of few worldwide, that is developing qubit processor technology.
Biochip device nanofabrication
The agreement with GlobalFoundries follows Archer’s news last week that it had achieved a long-term goal of fabricating biochip device components less than 10 nanometres (nm) in size.
Archer began nanofabrication processes in April 2021 with the aim of developing the sub-10nm biochip features.
The company has now fabricated sub-10nm features “reproducibly and reliably” through the development of several advanced lithographic processes on a silicon wafer in a clean-room environment.
“Achieving sub-10 nanometre fabrication of electronic device components is an excellent outcome on our path to developing Archer’s biochip technology, and one that demonstrates the world-class capabilities of our pioneering team,” Dr Choucair said.
Dr Choucair says the company’s semiconductor devices “push the boundaries of modern technology”.
