TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Semiconductor Opening Switches with Pre-Pulses Elimination

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 its Semiconductor Open Switch with pre-pulses elimination.

Background:

A Semiconductor Opening Switch (SOS) is a high-power pulse diode designed to interrupt currents at density levels of up to 10 kA/cm2 in less than 10 nanoseconds.  Current state of the art SOSs are widely used as solid-state generators to produce high power laser light, x-rays, and neutron pulses.  One of their drawbacks however is that their performance is compromised by the presence of pre-pulses.  These unwanted pulses feature long duration time and slow rise time, which degrades the voltage pulse rise time, peak voltage, etc. of the SOS device.  There is a need for a different SOS device structure that is able to suppress or eliminate these pre-pulses.

Description:

LLNL developed a novel SOS diode structure starting with a n-type silicon wafer.  On the appropriate sides of the wafer, donor and acceptor dopants with specifically designed and optimized concentration profiles are diffused in the structure.  Crucially, an extra n-region is introduced to the structure to address pre-pulses.  The result is a SOS diode with an optimized p+/p/n-base/n+ structure, and an extra layer that has a gradient n-doping.  The incorporation of this layer effectively suppresses the pre-pulses, increases peak voltage and reduces pulse rise time.  This approach has been validated in optimization simulations. 

Advantages/Benefits:

• Value Proposition:  Improved performance of SOS diodes
• Vital for compact high voltage pulse generators

Potential Applications: 

• Pulsed-power physics
• Compact high voltage pulse generators
• High power electronics

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2     ☒ 3-5     ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

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 SOS with pre-pulses elimination should provide an electronic OR 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.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's SOS with pre-pulses elimination.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

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-13828