As COVID-19 continues to ravage global populations, the world is singularly focused on finding ways to battle the novel coronavirus. That includes the UC Santa Barbara’s Solid State Lighting & Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC) and member companies. Researchers there are developing ultraviolet LEDs that have the ability to decontaminate surfaces — and potentially air and water — that have come in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Semiconductors
NREL Six-Junction Solar Cell Sets Two World Records for Efficiency
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have fabricated a solar cell with an efficiency of nearly 50%. The six-junction solar cell now holds the world record for the highest solar conversion efficiency at 47.1%, which was measured under concentrated illumination. A variation of the same cell also set the efficiency record under one-sun illumination at 39.2%.
Kandou Named One of Europe’s Most-Promising Growth Companies
Kandou, an innovative leader in high-speed, energy-efficient, chip link solutions, was named one of 50 European companies with the most promise to make a massive international impact by Tech Tour.
2019 Global Semiconductor Equipment Sales Slip 7 Percent to $59.8 Billion, SEMI Reports
Semiconductor equipment manufacturers worldwide logged sales of $59.8 billion in 2019, a 7 percent drop from the all-time high of $64.5 billion in 2018, SEMI, the industry association representing the worldwide electronics product design and manufacturing supply chain, reported today.
Gradual Rebound or Slight Dip – Two Scenarios for COVID-19 Impact to 2020 Global Silicon Wafer Market Sales, SEMI Reports
Global silicon wafer market sales could dip if uncertainty surrounding the impact of COVID-19 to the semiconductor industry persists or climb on the strength of rebounding chip sales, SEMI said today in new quarterly report that lays out two wafer market scenarios for the second half of 2020.
The 2020 Symposia on VLSI Technology & Circuits Goes Virtual
For the first time in its 40-year history, the 2020 Symposia on VLSI Technology & Circuits will be held as a virtual conference due to concerns over the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Global IC Market Forecast Lowered From 3% to -4%
When 2020 started, global economic conditions pointed to single-digit percentage sales growth in the IC market after it fell by 15% in 2019, based on worldwide market data compiled by IC Insights for the 2020 edition of The McClean Report—A Complete Analysis and Forecast of the Integrated Circuit Industry (MR20). However, the world abruptly changed in 1Q20 with the rapid outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, which shut down nearly all countries and paralyzed global markets beginning in March 2020.
Lam Research Commits $25 Million To COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Efforts
Lam Research Corp. (Nasdaq: LRCX) announced that it is committing $25 million for global COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts. The funds will be for short-term community assistance, including supplies to hospitals, longer-term recovery for communities, and relief funds to employees.
Samsung To Support U.S. Communities in the Fight Against COVID-19
Today, Samsung announced a community outreach donation of $4.3 million in COVID-19 relief to local partners in neighborhoods where a majority of their U.S. employees live and work. These donations build upon their global efforts to date, which now surpass $33 million.
Global Spintronics Market Worth $12.84 Billion by 2030
Due to the increasing deployment of electric vehicles (EV) across the globe and rising demand for magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), the global spintronics market is expected to register a revenue of $12,845.6 million by 2030. The market was valued at $362.7 million in 2019, from where it is predicted to witness a CAGR of 34.8% during the forecast period (2020-2030).
