NASA surveys industry for expertise in extreme-environment SiC JFETs and resistors for space missions
CLEVELAND – U.S. Space Agency researchers are surveying industry to find companies able to fabricate extreme-environment silicon carbide (SiC) junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) and resistors on NASA-provided 100-millimeter wafers.
Officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center in Cleveland issued a sources-sought notice (80GRC025R7012SS) on Friday for the 4H-SiC Silicon Carbide (SiC) Integrated Circuit Processing on 100 mm Diameter SiC Wafers project.
NASA-Glenn is soliciting information from potential sources to fabricate SiC JFETs and resistors on NASA-provided 100-millimeter-diameter 4H-SiC epilayered wafers using NASA-provided device-layout design files.
Capability statements
NASA-Glenn is asking industry for capability statements for 4H-SiC integrated circuit processing on 100-millimeter-diameter SiC wafers in an integrated circuit fabrication process flow designated as the “Gen. 12b” prototype wafer.
A JFET is a three-terminal semiconductor that controls current flow between the source and drain using a voltage applied to the gate terminal. These power electronics components for space missions must be able to withstand temperatures as hot as 500 degrees Celsius.
Upon completion, the wafers will go back to NASA for additional processing of bond pads and the back-side contact to finish forming integrated circuits for prototype extreme-environment electronic systems in NASA missions.
Design rules online
An overview of the IC. Gen. 12 mask layout design rules and related IC Gen. 12 documentation is online at https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/research-and-engineering/silicon-carbide-electronics-and-sensors/jfet-ic-tech-guide/.
Companies interested should email two-page capability statements no later than 21 April 2025 to NASA's Claude David at [email protected]. Refer to 80GRC025R7012SS in all responses.
More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/a53fd6d495a640238f14fd56da6f175e/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
