A new nanofabrication centre at the University of Southampton aims to manufacture high-speed, non-volatile universal memory devices for industry within the next five years.
Scientists at the centre will combine conventional silicon technology with the nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) concept to create advanced switch, memory and sensor devices.
Dr Yoshishige Tsuchiya of the university's School of Electronics and Computer Science said the high-speed, non-volatile and low-power NEMS memory will be suitable for pen drive devices for PCs and mobile applications.
"In the clean room, we will have both conventional equipment and new nanofabrication facilities such as Electron Beam Lithography and Focused Ion Beam, which we will use to fabricate the new memory devices," he commented.
The University of Southampton recently became the first European university to receive the Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys, which will enable the academic centre to set up a brand new laboratory for virtual learning in integrated circuit design.