Isonics and Epichem Start Development of Isotopically Pure Gallium
Source: Isonics
Golden, CO. Isonics Corporation (NASDAQ:ISON/ISONW; FRANKFURT:IO9) and Epichem, Inc., announced today a Joint Development Program to commercialize isotopically pure gallium compounds for the semiconductor and optoelectronic industries.
Dr. Stephen Burden, Isonics Vice President for Semiconductor Materials, explained, "The compound semiconductor market for devices based on gallium was over $9 billion in 1999 and is being driven by explosive growth in wireless communications and optoelectronics. This jointly funded, two year program will demonstrate cost effective isotope separation techniques for gallium compounds and determine the benefits of higher thermal conductivity on GaAs, GaN, and GaP based devices such as semiconductor lasers, LED s, and high frequency integrated circuits. These devices are following a technology roadmap similar to that for silicon, with devices using smaller design features, larger wafer sizes, and higher frequencies. We believe that improved thermal conductivity provided by isotopically pure gallium can be a cost effective way to increase the performance and reliability of these devices. Since the thermal conductivity of GaAs is about one-third that of silicon, it is very likely that improved thermal properties will have substantial positive impact."
Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Epichem, Inc., is the world s largest producer of organometallic compounds for electronics and is the leading supplier of gallium compounds to the optoelectronic industry. "We are excited by the prospect of taking our chemical purity one step further, and welcome the opportunity to enhance the performance of electronic devices made from our products," said Greg Muhr, Vice President of Marketing for Epichem Inc.
Isonics is a world leader in isotopically engineered materials and produces isotopically pure silicon-28 chemicals and wafers for the semiconductor industry. Isonics also markets and sells stable isotopes for the health care industry such as carbon-13 for diagnostic breath tests and drug design, and oxygen-18 for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Stable isotopes can be thought of as ultra pure materials. This high degree of purification provides enhanced properties as compared to natural materials. Additional information may be obtained at www.isonics.com.
Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company s actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the Company operates in industries where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the Company s control. In assessing forward-looking statements contained herein, readers are urged to carefully read all cautionary statements contained in the Company s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Cameron Associates Michael Brod Tel: 212/245-8800 michael@cameronassoc.com or Isonics Corporation Stephen J. Burden Tel: 303/279-7900 sburden@isonics.com or Epichem, Inc. Dick Pearce, VP Tel: 281/461-4123 www.epichem.com
Cameron Associates
Michael Brod
Tel: 212/245-8800
michael@cameronassoc.com
or
Isonics Corporation
Stephen J. Burden
Tel: 303/279-7900
sburden@isonics.com
or
Epichem, Inc.
Dick Pearce, VP
Tel: 281/461-4123
www.epichem.com
E-mail: sburden@isonics.com
Web site: http://www.epichem.com
