Rookie,
Thanks for posting that link. I read the page and the associated FAQ. I was happy to see some supporting information, and glad to verify that their main selling point was the thermal conductivity. I was particularly impressed that they admitted that the overall chip temperature would not change due to the thick substrate (in the FAQ, although a different claim is implied on the main page summary). I think the most important statement to the customer is:
Q. What is the cost of isotopically pure silicon-28 epitaxial wafers?
Currently the cost is about ten times the price of a natural silicon epitaxial wafer. As with most things in the electronics area, the cost will come down as the volume produced increases. We foresee the price of a 8" diameter (200 mm) silicon-28 epitaxial wafer decreasing in the future to about twice the price of a natural silicon epitaxial wafer. The price differential for 12" diameter (300 mm) epitaxial wafers should be less since they are more expensive to start with.
One other thing this cleared up (which their press release did not mention) is that they the layers are epitaxial. Previously we were thinking it was the entire wafer, which seemed ridiculously expensive.
Whatever the case, I give these guys credit for having 'good' information available. Unfortunately, I don't know if the cost/benefit ratio will ever be favorable. Additionally, I wonder if they could supply enough wafers if there were considerable interest. I can say, however, that heat dissipation is a major concern. I will keep a skeptical eye on this one.
Thanks for the link,
Steve |
