Suzhou Hyperion Geocrystal Co Ltd has achieved volume production of large-diameter c-axis sapphire cores using CHES (Controlled Heat Extraction System) furnaces from Advanced RenewableEnergy Company LLC (ARC Energy) of Nashua, NH, USA, which provides c-axis sapphire growth technologies and turnkey solutions for the LED solid-state lighting market.

Hyperion is now at volume production levels and can supply 50mm, 100mm, 150mm and 200mm (2", 4", 6" and 8") diameter cores, epi-ready wafers, and PSS (patterned sapphire substrate) wafers. It has already received orders from multiple high-brightness LED (HB-LED) makers and has begun shipping material to a broad customer base. ARC says that Hyperion prefers CHES furnaces because of their high material utilization and automated operation.

“Our CHES furnace customers are in a unique position to deliver large-diameter sapphire with high quality at low costs due to the high material utilization inherent with our on-axis growth technology,” claims ARC Energy senior VP Hap Hewes.

Hyperion purchased CHES furnaces and related ARC products to grow and sell sapphire to the HB-LED industry. CHES furnaces grow sapphire directly on the c-axis, providing benefits including high material utilization that improves as substrate diameter increases, claims ARC. This scalable yield puts users in a position as the industry moves to larger wafer sizes, the firm adds.

ARC says that CHES furnaces are automated and require minimal operator input and training. Automation software takes on complex adjustments with precision and repeatability, resulting in more consistent sapphire growth and less operator dependency, it claims. The firm adds that, at Hyperion, this ensures higher throughput and uniform size sapphire boules with consistently high quality.