Obducat takes part in EU project SMASH

Nov. 5, 2009
With a budget of EUR 11.5 million, the SMASH project will investigate growth of LED structures on nano-structured templates and the development of LEDs based on nano-rod emitters.
OBDUCAT, a manufacturer of lithography equipment based on nanoimprint and electron-beam technology, has been invited to participate in the EU funded SMASH project.

The project's purpose is to establish new materials and process technologies to be used in production of low-cost, power-efficient, white LED light sources for the general lighting market.

SMASH is an EU-funded project within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP 7). It extends over three years with a budget totaling EUR 11.5 million. The project is coordinated by Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH and brings together complementary expertise from across Europe. Fourteen partners—from large industry, SMEs, research institutions and universities with an established track record of productive collaborations—will participate in the project.

The concept of SMASH is to establish disruptive approaches that exploit nano-structured compound semiconductors to realize the key market factors of high efficiency and low cost. These will be achieved by epitaxial growth of LED structures on ultra-low-defect nano-structured templates and by the development of LEDs based on nano-rod emitters. These approaches will have large impact on manufacturing costs because they enable growth on large area, low cost substrates such as silicon.

"Realizing these technologies will lead to a new generation of highly efficient and affordable LEDs, which enables the entrance to the general lighting market. That will keep Europe at the forefront of the energy-saving solid state lighting business and strengthen its position in the manufacturing supply chain and luminaire business," says Patrik Lundström, CEO of Obducat AB.

"Our main focus within the SMASH project will be on stamp manufacturing and replication of nanostructures based on our proprietary IPS®-STU® nanoimprint lithography technology for high-volume manufacturing," added Patrik Lundström.