Again in 2011, the world held its breath after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan suffered a failure of its cooling methods, within the wake of the nation getting hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. The concern was not unfounded: the ensuing meltdown — which unfold extremely radioactive materials in a number of instructions — turned one of many worst nuclear-related disasters of all time.
Greater than a decade on, the clean-up continues to be in progress. Final month, the Japanese authorities started a testing process to take away radioactive particles in and across the plant — a major step within the plant’s decommissioning course of, anticipated to be accomplished by 2051.
A groundbreaking startup from Japan, Ookuma Diamond Machine (ODD), is taking part in a captivating half within the course of, by means of diamond chips which can be being utilized in efforts to take away radioactive particles, by means of diamond-chip-powered amplifiers. And now, it has raised 4 billion yen, equal to roughly $27 million, to construct the world’s first diamond semiconductor manufacturing facility in close by Ookuma, additionally in Fukushima.
ODD’s plans are to construct the manufacturing unit in January 2025 and have it up and operating by Summer time 2026.
Why use diamond chips somewhat than conventional silicon-based semiconductors?
Diamond is named a wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor materials — others embody SiC (silicon carbide) and GaN (gallium nitride). WBG supplies are thought of to have higher energy conversion effectivity and distinctive thermal administration.
In contrast to silicon-based CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs, however the diamond-based chip should not have a circuit construction. Diamond semiconductors act extra like highly effective management gadgets than small electrical energy sources, Coral Capital associate Ken Nishimura informed TechCrunch. He stated that the diamond semiconductor will likely be utilized in bigger services akin to nuclear energy crops that require tremendous excessive temperatures and radiation ranges, which silicon-based chips can’t stand up to.
Diamond semiconductor amplifiers working underneath 300°C have been efficiently prototyped utilizing the Nationwide Institute of Superior Industrial Science and Expertise (AIST) and Hokkaido College services.
“Diamond semiconductors, which we develop, are fundamentally different from traditional silicon-based chips due to their superior material properties,” Yuhei Nagai, CFO of Ookuma Diamond Machine, stated in an unique interview with TechCrunch. In comparison with different superior semiconductors like SiC and GaN, diamond semiconductors present superior energy conversion effectivity and improved thermal administration for next-generation applied sciences akin to 6G, area, protection, and nuclear, he continued.
It’s additionally notable that diamond chips could be constructed from methane gasoline, doubtlessly enabling full manufacturing in Japan. That is in distinction to GaN, which depends sourcing supplies closely managed by China.
ODD’s focus is on creating “pure diamond semiconductors,” somewhat than GaN semiconductors on a diamond substrate, Nagai stated. The market dimension for diamond supplies utilized in chips is anticipated to develop to $10 billion by 2032, up from $113.7 million in 2023., based on a latest report.
The startup, a spinout from Japan’s Nationwide Institute of Superior Industrial Science and Expertise (AIST) and Hokkaido College, was particularly based in 2021 to assist with decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Energy Plant.
Two co-founders, Dr. Junichi Kaneko and Dr. Hitoshi Umezawa, have researched diamond chips for over 20 years. They discovered their work thrown into the highlight after the catastrophe, which spelled extra sources for R&D and spurred the founding of the startup. ODD constructed the world’s first sensible diamond chip in 2021.
The leaps between idea, chip, and last product are nonetheless vital. The 2 co-founders are additionally main the Japanese authorities’s wider nationwide undertaking to make an precise product that might take away radioactive particles from pure disasters.
“The [ODD’s] prototypes represent a world-first achievement—no one else has been able to develop functioning diamond semiconductor amplifiers to this point,” stated Nagai.
A handful of world firms are additionally creating diamond semiconductors, together with Diamfab in France, Aspect Six within the U.Ok., and A.L.M.T. in Japan, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electrical Industries.
ODD units itself aside by claiming to be the one one with end-to-end experience, from substrate to packaging, enabling the world’s prototype of a diamond semiconductor amplifier.
ODD can also be speaking with greater than 10 potential prospects worldwide within the nuclear energy plant, aerospace, and telco industries, Nagai stated — an space that this week bought elevated focus after it emerged that Google signed a deal to work on powering information facilities with nuclear energy.
Globis Capital companions led the latest funding, which brings its complete raised to roughly $45 million (6.7 billion yen) since its inception, with participation from Coral Capital, aSTART, Inexperienced Co-Make investments Funding, Japan Publish Financial institution Spiral Regional Innovation Fund, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance coverage enterprise capital, SMBC Enterprise Capital, amongst others.
The startup, which at present has 27 workers, has additionally obtained round $15 million in authorities grants from the Cupboard Workplace, METI, MIC, ATLA, and the Reconstruction Company.
