Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE, OTC:ARRXF) has enjoyed a rise in share prices after achieving a long-term targeted goal of sub-10 nanometre (nm) feature size fabrication for its biochip device components.
The company is developing a biochip that would allow droplets of biological specimens to be analysed and processed using graphene-based sensors.
This in-house feature size breakthrough places Archer at the ‘leading edge’ in the semiconductor industry.
The company says this miniaturisation of feature sizes is an important step in the future operation of its biochip, as smaller features could enable smaller overall chip size, better performance and reduced power consumption.
Shares jump
Investors have welcomed the development, sending shares as much as 34.25% higher intraday to A$0.98 while the company's market cap is approximately A$223.62 million.
AXE achieved this feat with several advanced lithographic processes on a silicon wafer in a clean room environment and says it has now fabricated the sub-10 nm features reproducibly and reliably.
Breakthrough an “excellent outcome”
“We’re developing semiconductor devices that push the boundaries of modern technology,” Archer Materials CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said.
“We ambitiously set out to achieve sub-10 nm fabrication to bring Archer in line with the feature size lithographic processing capability of leading players in the semiconductor industry.
“Achieving sub-10 nanometre fabrication of electronic device components is an excellent outcome on our path to developing Archer’s biochip technology, and one that demonstrates the world-class capabilities of our pioneering team.”
Archer retains full rights to the biochip technology and intellectual property, as it’s being developed in-house by Archer staff.