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News > Nanowerk Research and General News >
| Posted: February 6, 2008 |
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The MONA Nanophotonics Technology Roadmap now available
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(Nanowerk News) During 2 years (2005-2007), the MONA (“Merging Optics and
Nanotechnologies”) consortium has been working through workshops,
symposia and expert interviews at establishing a roadmap for
photonics and nanotechnologies (pdf download, 3.8 MB) in Europe. Almost 300 people from
industry and academia have been involved in the construction of this
roadmap that gives insight into the future of materials, equipment,
processes and applications. It also highlights the European position
and outlook with respect to nanophotonics, and offers
recommendations.
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The MONA roadmap identifies key nanomaterials having the strongest
impact for nanophotonics. They are:
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Quantum dots and wires in Si, III-V and II-VI
Plasmonic nanostructures
High-index-contrast Si and III-V nanostructures
Carbon nanotubes
Integration of electronics with photonics
Nanoparticles in glasses or polymers.
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Equipment and processes are crucial for the improvement of the
performance of nanophotonic devices.
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The processes that will have the highest potential impact on
nanophotonics and at the same time have potential for mass
production are MOCVD, CNT CVD, colloidal synthesis,
nanophosphor fabrication, sol-gel synthesis, OVPD, UV
lithography, nanoimprint and etching.
The types of equipment and processes with the broadest field of
applications are MOCVD, MBE and colloidal chemistry as bottom up
technologies and UV lithography, e-beam lithography and
nanoimprint lithography as top-down technologies.
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The MONA Roadmap identifies key devices for major applications:
displays, Photovoltaics, Imaging, Lighting, Datacom/telecom, Sensors
and Optical Interconnects.
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The key recommendations of MONA are:
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Provide support services for displays such as R&D and process equipment
(CVD for carbon nanotubes for example), since strong European
competencies exist in the field of carbon nanotubes, glass substrates and
display systems. Moreover, Europe could benefit from OLED rigid display
development by providing R&D services, materials and equipment. There is
also room for innovation on flexible displays which are not industrialized yet.
Develop quantum-dot technology for solar cells. The photovoltaics market
is growing.
Maintain R&D on visible and infrared-sensing in various application areas.
There are industrial players in Europe (STM, e2v). Moreover, in infrared
sensing, Europe has key players like Sofradir. These companies are
interested in III-V quantum dots as an alternative to MCT and conventional
QWIPs.
Intensified R&D for Lighting. There is a large market for nanophotonics so
securing a successful industrial development appears as an important
objective. Moreover, the presence of two major European players (Osram,
Philips) is a major asset.
Maintain R&D for datacom/telecom (Bookham, 3S Photonics and many
start-ups), specifically for further integration of optical and electronic chips.
Europe should maintain its R&D on microstructured fibers, II-VI quantum
dots and plasmonics for nanophotonic-based sensors (for example
surface plasmon resonance instrumentation has been successfully
commercialized by Biacore in Sweden).
Maintain R&D competence in optical interconnects. This effort should be
continued in order to compete with the USA where DARPA, big
microelectronics companies (Intel, IBM) and start-ups (Luxtera, Kotura) are
already very active.
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