https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. At this year's IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM 2025), imec, a research and innovation hub in advanced semiconductor technologies, presents the first successful wafer-scale fabrication of solid-state nanopores using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Solid-state nanopores are emerging as powerful tools for molecular sensing but haven't been commercialized yet. This proof of concept is a crucial step toward their cost-effective (mass) production. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-wafer-scale-solid-state-nanopores.html Nanophysics Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:50:04 EST news685198781 This week, at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM 2025), imec, a research and innovation hub in advanced semiconductor technologies, successfully demonstrated the integration of colloidal quantum dot photodiodes (QDPDs) on metasurfaces developed on its 300 mm CMOS pilot line. This pioneering approach enables a scalable platform for the development of compact, miniaturized shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral sensors, setting a new standard for cost-effective and high-resolution spectral imaging solutions. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-colloidal-quantum-dot-photodiodes-metasurfaces.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:06:21 EST news684691561 At the 2025 IEEE International Interconnect Technology Conference (IITC), imec, a research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, has presented Ru lines at 16nm pitch with average resistance as low as 656Ω/µm. The 16nm pitch metal lines were fabricated using a semi-damascene integration flow optimized for cost-effective manufacturability, making it an attractive approach for fabricating the first local interconnect metal layer of the A7 and beyond technology nodes. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-semi-damascene-approach-enables-16nm.html Nanomaterials Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:10:10 EDT news668315403 At this year's IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (Dec 7-11 2019), imec reports an in-depth study of scaled transistors with MoS2 and demonstrates best device performance to date for such materials. https://phys.org/news/2019-12-imec-excellent-ultra-scaled-fets-d-material.html Nanophysics Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:50:36 EST news495107433 This week, at the 2018 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, presents a 300mm-wafer platform for MOSFET devices with 2-D materials. 2-D materials could provide the path towards extreme device-dimension scaling as they are atomically precise and suffer little from short channel effects. Other possible applications of 2-D materials could come from using them as switches in the BEOL, which puts an upper limit on the allowed temperature budget in the integration flow. https://phys.org/news/2018-12-imec-growth-d-materials-300mm.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 03 Dec 2018 09:30:01 EST news463049164 At today's EU PVSEC conference, imec—the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, energy and digital technology and partner in EnergyVille—announced that its latest generation of large-area monofacial screen-printed rear-emitter nPERT cells feature a conversion efficiency of 23.03 percent, certified by Fraunhofer ISE CalLab. The nPERT (n-type Passivated Emitter and Rear Totally diffused) solar cells are made using an industry-compatible screen-printing process that has been designed as an upgrade of conventional pPERC (p-type Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) processes. According to imec, its nPERT technology is projected to reach 23.5 percent efficiency by the end of this year, and there is a clear technology roadmap to eventually surpass 24 percent. https://phys.org/news/2018-09-screen-printed-large-area-npert-solar-cells.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 24 Sep 2018 09:59:00 EDT news457001936 Imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nano-electronics and digital technologies, presents this week at its technology forum ITF 2018 (Antwerp, May 23-24), a novel organ-on-chip platform for pharmacological studies with unprecedented signal quality. It fuses imec's high-density multi-electrode array (MEA)-chip with a microfluidic well plate, developed in collaboration with Micronit Microtechnologies, in which cells can be cultured, providing an environment that mimics human physiology. Capable of performing multiple tests in parallel, the new device aims to be a game-changer for the pharmaceutical industry, offering high quality data in the drug development process. https://phys.org/news/2018-05-organ-on-chip-platform-drug-screening.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 23 May 2018 09:50:16 EDT news446287807 Imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nano-electronics and digital technology, will demonstrate today at its Imec Technology Forum in Antwerp (ITF Belgium 2018), a new wireless eye-tracking technology based on electro-oculography (EOG), an ophthalmology technique used to examine eyes and record eye movement. The technology, which is integrated into a standard pair of eyeglasses, can significantly improve augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) experiences. Moreover, imec aims to employ it for clinical research on neurodegenerative diseases. https://phys.org/news/2018-05-ergonomic-eye-tracking-technology-high-quality-arvr.html Engineering Wed, 23 May 2018 08:38:41 EDT news446283512 Imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics, energy and digital technologies and partner in EnergyVille, has fabricated an innovative type of solid-state Li-ion battery achieving an energy density of 200 Wh/liter at a charging speed of 0.5C (2 hours). This battery is a milestone on our roadmap to surpass wet Li-ion battery performance and reach 1000Wh/L at 2C by 2024. With this clear performance engineering path, imec's battery technology is ready to become a contender to power tomorrow's fast-charging, long-haul vehicles.  https://phys.org/news/2018-04-milestone-next-gen-solid-state-batteries-power.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 10 Apr 2018 10:22:16 EDT news442574414 Imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technology, continues to advance the readiness of EUV lithography with particular focus on EUV single exposure of Logic N5 metal layers, and of aggressive dense hole arrays. Imec's approach to enable EUV single patterning at these dimensions is based on the co-optimization of various lithography enablers, including materials, metrology, design rules, post processing and a fundamental understanding of critical EUV processes. The results, that will be presented in multiple papers at this week's 2018 SPIE Advanced Lithography Conference, are aimed at significantly impacting the technology roadmap and wafer cost of near-term technology nodes for logic and memory. https://phys.org/news/2018-02-imec-limits-euv-lithography-exposure.html Nanophysics Mon, 26 Feb 2018 08:50:02 EST news438856812 Quad Industries, Agfa, imec and TNO announced today that they have demonstrated a plastic 12-bit RFID tag and read-out system with screen-printed circuitry. The system integrates, for the first time, a screen-printed antenna and printed touch-based user interface, allowing implementation of the reader on curved surfaces. The demonstrator has been designed for badge security applications, but holds promises for many other applications, including smart packages, wearables and interactive games. https://phys.org/news/2017-06-plastic-bit-rfid-tag-read-out.html Engineering Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:10:17 EDT news415955453 Imec and Holst Centre (set up by imec and TNO) today announced the development of a sensing technology to detect eye movement in real time based on electrical sensing. Paving the way for the next generation of eye-tracking technology, imec's solution has promising applications in the fields of virtual and augmented reality. https://phys.org/news/2017-05-solution-precise-low-cost-eye-movement.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 19 May 2017 05:46:50 EDT news414391601 Today, at the imec technology forum (ITF2017), imec demonstrated the world's first self-learning neuromorphic chip. The brain-inspired chip, based on OxRAM technology, has the capability of self-learning and has been demonstrated to have the ability to compose music. https://phys.org/news/2017-05-self-learning-neuromorphic-chip-music.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 16 May 2017 08:20:01 EDT news414140955 Imec announced today its success in fabricating a prototype implantable chip that aims to give patients more intuitive control over their arm prosthetics. The thin-silicon chip is a world's first for electrode density and was developed in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida, as part of the IMPRESS project funded by the DARPA's HAPTIX program to create a closed-loop system for future-generation haptic prosthetics technology. https://phys.org/news/2017-05-world-thin-silicon-implantable-chip-high-precision.html Engineering Tue, 16 May 2017 08:10:16 EDT news414140892 At this week's SPIE Photonics West, imec will present a new set of hyperspectral sensor and camera solutions with extended spectral range, going from the visible light (VIS) up to near infrared (NIR). The new line-scan VNIR (visible to near-infrared) sensor and snapshot mosaic VNIR camera outperform current solutions in spectral range and compactness. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-imec-broad-spectrum-hyperspectral-imaging.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:20:02 EST news374742779 At next week's SPIE Photonics West 2016, imec will demonstrate a lens-free microscope for large field-of-view live imaging at micrometer resolution. Imec's on-chip lens-free microscope can be integrated into life sciences and biotech tools, targeting multiple applications such as label-free cell monitoring, automated cell culturing, or automated high-throughput microscopy. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-compact-lens-free-digital-microscope.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 11 Feb 2016 07:20:01 EST news374396112 Today, imec, Holst Centre, and the Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) faculty of Delft University of Technology, announced the introduction of a new wireless electroencephalogram (EEG) headset that can be worn comfortably and achieves a high-quality EEG signal. The headset enables effective brain-computer interfacing and can monitor emotions and mood in daily life situations using a smartphone application. https://phys.org/news/2015-08-comfortable-eeg-headset-user-comfort.html Engineering Tue, 25 Aug 2015 06:27:32 EDT news359702839 Leuven (Belgium) and Eindhoven (the Netherlands) – Imec and Holst Centre have developed a small NO2 sensor featuring a low power consumption in the mW range. The sensors have a low detection limit for NO2 ( https://phys.org/news/2015-06-gas-platform-intuitive-internet-applications.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:01 EDT news354262580 Today, at the 2015 International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), imec and Panasonic presented a transceiver chip for phase-modulated continuous-wave radar at 79GHz. This achievement demonstrates the potential of downscaled CMOS for cheap millimeter-wave (mm-wave) radar systems that can be used for accurate presence and motion detection. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-breakthrough-cmos-based-transceivers-mm-wave-radar.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:50:03 EST news344165602 At next week's SPIE advanced lithography conference, to be held in San Jose, Calif., Feb. 22-26, imec will present breakthrough results on Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) process development. Together with semiconductor equipment supplier Tokyo Electron and Merck, a leading chemical and pharmaceutical company that acquired AZ Electronic Materials in May 2014, imec has significantly improved DSA defectivity in the past year, approaching single-digit values. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-breakthrough-results-self-assembly.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:25:20 EST news343556697 At next week's SPIE Photonics West 2015, imec will present a new set of snapshot hyperspectral CMOS image sensors featuring spectral filter structures in a mosaic layout, processed per-pixel on 4x4 and 5x5 'Bayer-like' arrays. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-imec-snapshot-hyperspectral-image-sensors.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 04 Feb 2015 06:13:38 EST news342252812 At this week's IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM 2014), nanoelectronics research center imec and its associated lab at Ghent University have demonstrated the industry's first integrated graphene optical electro-absorption modulator (EAM) capable of 10Gb/s modulation speed. Combining low insertion loss, low drive voltage, high thermal stability, broadband operation and compact footprint, the device marks an important milestone in the realization of next-generation, high-density low-power integrated optical interconnects. https://phys.org/news/2014-12-imec-broadband-graphene-optical-modulator.html Nanophysics Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:21:23 EST news337940476 At this week's VISION 2014 exhibition, imec presents a backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS image sensor chip featuring a new anti-reflective coating (ARC) optimized for UV light. Targeting imaging solutions in new markets such as life sciences, the achievement is an important addition to imec's customized 200mm CMOS fab. This 200mm process line enables imec to offer design, prototyping and low volume manufacturing of custom specialty chip solutions such as highly specialized CMOS image sensors. https://phys.org/news/2014-11-imec-back-side-illuminated-cmos-image.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:10:02 EST news334310175 At this week's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2014), nanoelectronics research center imec presents a fullerene-free organic photovoltaic (OPV) module of 160cm2 achieving a conversion efficiency above 5 percent, and a semi-transparent OPV module with an efficiency above 4.5 percent. With both modules showing excellent electrical and optical properties, imec's latest achievement in the upscaling of OPV cells into highly efficient and stable modules is an important step in realizing the product development of organic photovoltaics. https://phys.org/news/2014-09-imec-photovoltaics-modules-excellent-optical.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 22 Sep 2014 08:30:02 EDT news330589612 Holst Centre and IMEC have unveiled a prototype flexible health patch weighing just 10g – half the weight of current products. The patch uses real-time electrocardiogram (ECG), tissue-contact impedance and accelerometer information to accurately monitor physical activity. Thanks to advanced system in package (SiP) technology from ShinkoElectric Industries, the electronics module measures less than two by two centimeters. The high accuracy algorithms, low power consumption, and small size and weight make it ideal for consumer applications. https://phys.org/news/2014-04-small-health-patch-accuracy.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 09 Apr 2014 09:10:04 EDT news316251635 Imec, in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, presents the world's first 79 GHz radar transmitter implemented in plain digital 28nm CMOS. With an output power above 10dBm, the transmitter front-end paves the way towards full radar-on-chip solutions for automotive and smart environment applications. https://phys.org/news/2014-02-world-ghz-radar-transmitter-28nm.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:00:02 EST news311931928 Imec, the Belgian nanoelectronics research center, will present at this week's 'CMOS Image Sensors for High Performance Applications' workshop in Toulouse (France) a prototype of a high-performance, time-delay-integration (TDI) image sensor. The image sensor is based on imec's proprietary embedded charge-coupled device (CCD) in CMOS technology. Imec developed and fabricated the sensor for the French Space Agency, CNES, which plans to utilize the technology for space-based earth observation. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-image-sensors-high-applications.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 25 Nov 2013 08:50:01 EST news304589461 Imec, a leading nanoelectronics research center, announced today that it has successfully demonstrated the first III-V compound semiconductor FinFET devices integrated epitaxially on 300mm silicon wafers, through a unique silicon fin replacement process. The achievement illustrates progress toward 300mm and future 450mm high-volume wafer manufacturing of advanced heterogeneous CMOS devices, monolithically integrating high-density compound semiconductors on silicon. The breakthrough not only enables continual CMOS scaling down to 7nm and below, but also enables new heterogeneous system opportunities in hybrid CMOS-RF and CMOS-optoelectronics. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-imec-world-iii-v-finfet-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:20:02 EST news302860726 Imec, a world-leading nanoelectronics research center and JSR, a leading materials company, announce that they have successfully used JSR's innovative PA (Photo-patternable Adhesive) material for wafer-scale processing of lab-on-chip devices. With PA as a key enabling material, imec has processed microfluidic cell-sorter devices, merging microheaters and sensors with wafer-scale polymer microfluidics. PA is a breakthrough material: a good microfluidic channel material and adhesive at the same time, suitable for wafer-scale processes and mass production. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-microfluidic-material-breakthrough-wafer-scale-mass.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 01 Nov 2013 07:00:02 EDT news302506941 FUJIFILM Corporation and imec have developed a new photoresist technology for organic semiconductors that enables the realization of submicron patterns. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-photoresist-technology-semiconductors-enabling-submicron.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:51:36 EDT news299407885