TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Reliable and Efficient Diamond Photoconductive Switches

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 novel diamond-based photoconductive switches.

Background:

High frequency switching is required for many applications including inverters, pulsed power, and generation of electromagnetic waves.  Previous photoconductive switches have been based on semiconductors such as Si, GaAs, GaN, or SiC.  Diamond is superior to these materials in terms of critical electric field, carrier mobility, and thermal conductivity, making it the best candidate for photoconductive semiconductor material.

Description:

Design and construction of a photoconductive switch requires a diamond photoconductor illuminated by light of a certain excitation wavelength.  The diamond material is chosen to be doped with substitutional nitrogen to act as a source of electrons.  The device architecture allows maximum light entering the aperture.  The top and bottom electrodes are made of ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) transparent conductors or materials with high reflectivity.

Advantages/Benefits: 

The diamond photoconductive switch has higher efficiency (~20%) and output power (~50 kW) compared to conventional switches.

LLNL’s diamond-based photoconductive switch technology has numerous advantages over traditional optical switches, such as:

1. Maintains high critical electric field
2. Higher breakdown voltage
3. Diamond has the best combination of material properties for switches

Potential Applications: 

• High power microwave sources
• High frequency amplifiers and pulse generators

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 5

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.  LLNL also has a large portfolio of photoconductive semiconductor switches, including four US issued patents (Nos. 10,134,927, 10,326,038, 10,530,362 and 11,522,542) as well as three published US patent applications (Nos. 2022/0123211, 2022/0069785, 2023/0011108) and four unpublished/filed patent applications.

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 novel diamond-based photoconductive switches should provide a 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.

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-13770/TB526-23

Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's novel diamond-based photoconductive switches.