GRAphene for Circuits and sYstem – GRACY

The GRACY proposal is a fundamental research project and focuses on graphene-based circuits dedicated to innovative applications for communication systems. This ambitious project addresses two academic partners (IEMN and IMS) and one industrial partner (Callisto). The proposal involves innovative solutions for the information and communication technology, by aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of graphene microwave devices to exhibit performances beyond those of currently available high frequency transistors.

Graphene is a new class of material under investigation in many labs over the world, for new classes of applications in nano-electronics. Because of its unique properties such as their high mobility, high Fermi velocity, high current carrying capability and good thermal conductivity, high hopes have been placed on it for applications in many areas. Therefore, in the field of information and communication technology, it can be used for ultra-high-speed, and/or low-noise applications in the microwave frequency range.

The GRACY project proposes to study graphene-based electronic circuits operating at microwave frequencies, and their integrability into communication systems. The proposed research includes graphene material synthesis, devices and circuit technology, and a demonstrator for a specific application. In particular, it focuses on increased performance in radiofrequency (RF) electronic components for low noise amplification around 20 GHz, avoiding the need for cryogenic cooling. The LNAs are a fundamental building-block in all communication electronics, and the potentialities of this new disruptive technology are very attractive for industrial activities linked to telecommunication and radar applications.

The GRACY proposal is targeting five challenging objectives: (i) Produce a CVD graphene with large domain transport properties close to those of single cristal flakes, (ii) Optimize processes and transistor structures for obtaining key performance figure of merit suitable for microwave applications, (iii) Optimize compact model for passive and active grapene based devices for microwave circuits design, (iv) Design and fabricate the first graphene low noise amplifier (LNA) working at microwave frequency, (v) Fabricate and test a demonstrator for industrial application.

The background of the GRACY consortium is particularly relevant to reach those challenging objectives and specific aspects of the valorization of the Intellectual Property Rights are expected such as patents.