Recently, in the Jiangbei New Area Research Park Optoelectronic Science and Technology Park, a "chase light by electricity" story is still in the wonderful staging.
The protagonist of the story is the first "thin film lithium niobate + X" heterogeneous integrated photonics chip production line, built by the Nanzhi Institute of Advanced Photonics Integration Technology (hereinafter referred to as "Nanzhi Photonics"), has formed a mass production capacity.
Follow the Nanzhi photoelectric technology research and development department in charge of Tang Ji into the production line to visit the channel, each laboratory, dressed in clean clothes process engineers "armed", is focused on the operation of various types of instruments.
The photolithography, etching, coating ...... photonic chip production line is not an assembly line in the traditional sense, but consists of a laboratory with different functions."The operation of the production line is now very stable, and 2 batches of thin-film lithium niobate photonic chip products have been delivered, which not only realizes the leap from technology incubation to large-scale production, but also provides high-performance photonic chip solutions for the industry."Tonto Jee Presents.
In recent years, the importance of optical communications as a cornerstone of AI computing has become increasingly prominent.As early as 2018, Zhu Shining, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and founder of Nanzhi Optoelectronics Research Institute, led the team to break into "no man's land", focusing on the field of lithium niobate materials, a new track in the optoelectronics industry.
At that time, Tang Ji was studying for a doctorate degree in chemistry at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, for him, lithium niobate is more like a familiar "old friend".At the end of 2019, freshly graduated, he decided to join Nanzhi Optoelectronics and put his professional expertise into the core process of lithium niobate on wafers.
Test, modify; and then test, modify ...... from the initial simulation design work to single-step process development, and then have the ability to integrate process solutions, sharpened over the years, now the "90" doctor has become the team leader of the technical direction, theThe team successfully launched an ultra-high bandwidth lithium niobate modulator chip with performance indexes leading the international market.At the same time, he also witnessed the Nanzhi photoelectric from research to production of the "high light" moment.
In the past, NII Optronics was mainly engaged in the conversion of scientific research results, proof of concept and sample development for startups. In order to further promote the mass production of thin-film lithium niobate photonic chips, NII Optronics has been actively transforming to "R&D + mass production foundry", accelerating the research and development of innovative products and industrial technologies. In the new district "research and production through the" action to promote theThe photonic chip production line was completed and delivered three months ahead of schedule.
"In the field of lithium niobate chips, we overcame the processing difficulties brought about by the material properties, from the maturity of the 4-inch crystal processing technology, to the development of the 8-inch crystal processing, has initially established a technological advantage, the customer contains enterprises, universities, research institutes, the demand is very strong." Tang Ji said.
As a research and development personnel, in the chip industry changes, the young Tang Ji more and more deeply feel the weight of the word "responsibility". "Domestic enterprises in the field of photonics technology there are still many gaps to be filled, and we are working hard to realize key technology breakthroughs through independent innovation, hoping that in the future to occupy a more important position in the international market." He said that in the new year, the team will firmly grasp the new opportunities and strive to make Nanzhi Photonics one of the benchmark enterprises in the field of domestic photonics technology.
Let the science and technology platform "innovation power" into industrial "hard power".
From the laboratory to the production line, is to cultivate the development of new quality productivity of the road. During the interview, production and research "go hand in hand" is a word frequently mentioned in the mouth of Tang Ji, but also the vivid practice of Nanzhi photoelectric. Scientific and technological innovation "key variables" into a new quality of productivity "maximum increment", to promote the formation of a virtuous cycle of scientific and technological achievements into the system, "research and production through" in the shape of the development of new momentum The "research-industry integration" contains unlimited vitality in shaping new driving force for development.
