TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Optically Quenchable Gallium Nitride Photoconductive Switch

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Optically Quenchable Gallium Nitride PCSS.

Background:

LLNL has an extensive portfolio on photoconductive switches (PCSS), a device used for several high power applications where traditional electronic devices cannot meet the requirements for speed, power, or electromagnetic isolation.  A type of PCSS called Bulk Optical Semiconductor Switch (BOSS) that can be controlled by laser pulses was developed using GaN doped with carbon, but it was limited by its slow performance.  LLNL researchers have developed a method for GaN:C in BOSS mode to enable fast switching times.

Description:

This LLNL invention is a wide bandgap (WBG) or ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) material comprising a PCSS that is modified, either chemically through alloying and/or mechanically through strain fields, in order to tune the energetic positions of the valence and/or conduction bands and the associated optical transition energies that create and quench the PCSS responsivity. The approach uses infrared (IR) light to partially quench the photoconductivity.  By pulsing the IR light, it can fully quench the photoconductivity.  Quenching the photoconductivity then enables the fast switching times needed for the application. 

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Value Proposition:  Bulk optical semiconductor switch with fast switching times.
• Suitable for pulsed power, RF and power electronics applications

Potential Applications: 

• Power Electronics
• Accelerators
• Pulsed Power applications
• Laser-triggered radiofrequency (RF) source

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 3

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Optically Quenchable GaN PCSS should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Optically Quenchable GaN PCSS.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13941