Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE, OTC:ARRXF) has made solid technical progress on its nanofabricated biochip, achieving a feature size of just 15 nanometres through the development of advanced lithography processes, prompting a share price increase.
This is a major step toward Archer’s cutting-edge goal of a sub-10 nanometre chip, the size reduction from which could potentially allow for billions of sensors on Archer’s biochip.
Archer says the reproducible and reliable fabrication of 15 nanometre features for these chips represents a minimum threshold of what is required for the development of its technology, paving the way for more technological advancements.
The scaling down of device components is an incremental process at these sizes, each reduction in feature size requiring new and optimised lithography processes of increasing complexity.
Investors have responded positively, driving shares as much as 15.98% higher to A$0.835.
Size reduction a “great outcome”
“Archer’s core business is the development of advanced semiconductor technology that is underpinned by the company’s nanofabrication capabilities,” Archer Materials CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said.
“Achieving 15 nanometre feature size is a great outcome. We have now prepared a suite of advanced lithography processes to reliably control fabrication for our device miniaturisation and scaling as we continue to advance towards breaking through the 10-nanometre barrier.”
Archer is developing its biochips completely in-house, retaining full rights to both the IP and fabrication methods of the graphene-based sensors and nanofabricated chips.