Programmable GaN chips adapt to network demands
Researchers at Tyndall National Institute have contributed to a major international breakthrough, demonstrating a new class of programmable GaN-based devices for next generation of 6G wireless comms.
As demand for faster, more reliable connectivity continues to grow, future 6G networks will need to handle significantly more data than today’s communication systems while operating with greater flexibility and lower energy consumption.
However, unlocking the full potential of 6G will require new wireless hardware capable of delivering high performance, energy efficiency, and real-time adaptability simultaneously, a challenge that existing technologies struggle to address.
To overcome this challenge, the research team has developed a programmable microchip that can continuously adapt to changing network demands while consuming almost no standby power.
The paper: 'Reconfigurable mmWave microchips co-integrating hBN switches on GaN', published in Nature, describes a device combining ultra-low-power and compact memristor switches made from multilayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), directly integrated on a high-performance GaN MMIC.
This is the first time these novel switches have been successfully integrated into fully functional mmwave communication circuits. Unlike conventional electronic switches, these non-volatile hBN-based switches can retain their configuration without requiring continuous power, resulting in extremely low energy consumption while maintaining high performance at high frequencies.
The technology was successfully demonstrated in several key RF components used in wireless comms systems, confirming its suitability for real-world applications.
Dimitra Psychogiou, who is funded by Research Ireland through a Research Professorship Award and the CONNECT Research Ireland Centre, and head of the Advanced Technologies Group, Tyndall, said: “This breakthrough demonstrates how innovative materials and device engineering can help shape the next generation of 6G and satellite communications.”
Andrés Fontana (pictured above), a senior postdoctoral researcher at Tyndall, said: “This research represents an important advance in RF semiconductor technology. By integrating novel 2D materials with GaN microchips, we have demonstrated a new class of programmable, ultra-low-power devices that could support the flexible, high-performance wireless systems needed for future 6G satellite and terrestrial communication networks.”
The research brought together expertise from an international team spanning Tyndall, UCC, the National University of Singapore (NUS), Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN.BA), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
This project was funded by Research Ireland, National Research Foundation of Singapore, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
