Sandia National Laboratories: MSTC: Technologies: Microelectronics

Microelectronics' primary mission is to develop methods for fabricating circuits that are immune to large radiation doses. Sandia's integrated circuits are operating beneath the oceans, in earth's orbit, and in the far regions of our solar system.

Modern Integrated Circuits

Modern integrated circuits contain millions of transistors with features as small as a virus. The capabilities of these complex microchips are virtually unlimited with applications ranging from high speed computers to microcircuits that can scan the atmosphere for toxic gases.

The future for special purpose microelectronics is even brighter. Novel fabrication techniques are now being used to create micromachines, smart chemical sensors, and advanced packages for the special purpose microcircuits.

MDL, 12,500 ft2, Class 1 Clean Room

Sandia's diverse microelectronics program is centered around the Microelectronics Development Laboratory (MDL).

Technologies supported by the MDL wafer fab are silicon based and focused towards Sandia National Laboratories' mission.

The center of this focus is the development and application of radiation hardened CMOS integrated circuit technologies capable of realizing digital, analog, mixed-mode, and nonvolatile memory circuits.

In addition, the MDL wafer fab is the world's premier R&D source of surface micromachining technology and the integration of that technology with CMOS (IMEMS – Integrated MicroElectroMechanical Systems).

Please address comments or questions to fabmgr@sandia.gov.