Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, SK Hynix deepen semiconductor R&D partnership

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and SK Hynix will expand their joint research into radiation-effect evaluation for semiconductors using a proton accelerator.

The two organizations signed a mutual cooperation MOU Tuesday at the Proton Science Research Center in Gyeongju.

In outer space and at high altitudes where aircraft operate, the atmosphere and magnetic field provide weaker shielding against cosmic radiation. When such radiation strikes semiconductor devices, it can cause malfunctions or damage, making radiation-tolerance verification essential for chips used in mobile applications such as automobiles and satellites.

The Gyeongju proton accelerator can replicate, in an extremely short time, the cosmic and atmospheric radiation environment a semiconductor would encounter over tens of thousands of years. Advanced memory chip products are designed and manufactured with radiation-hardened architectures based on the results of such tests.

The two organizations have collaborated for about eight years since 2018, using the Gyeongju proton accelerator to build up this technology.

SK Hynix has used the institute's proton and neutron beams to evaluate the radiation effects on semiconductor devices it has developed.

Under the new MOU, the two sides will pursue three areas of cooperation: joint use of beam time from the proton accelerator and the research reactor Hana-ro's proton and neutron beams; joint research into methods of using high-energy proton, electron, gamma-ray and neutron beams to simulate atmospheric and cosmic radiation environments for semiconductor testing; and coordination on other matters necessary to achieve the MOU's objectives.

Meanwhile, to meet growing demand for high-energy testing in the semiconductor and space sectors, the institute is conducting preliminary R&D to explore the feasibility of upgrading its current 100 MeV proton accelerator to 200 MeV-class performance. Domestic companies have long relied on overseas facilities for high-performance testing. If the upgrade proceeds based on the preliminary R&D results, it is expected to create a domestic foundation for some high-energy tests currently conducted abroad, reducing costs and time while lowering the risk of technology leakage.

Im In-cheol, acting president of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, said the MOU "marks a starting point for advancing semiconductor radiation-reliability evaluation technology by combining the research capabilities of a major national research facility with those of a world-class chipmaker," adding that the institute would "lead efforts to raise the technological competitiveness of Korea's semiconductor and space industries to the world's highest level and build a safe semiconductor and space ecosystem that the public can feel."

Song Jun-ho, executive vice president of SK Hynix, said the company would "accelerate the internalization of radiation-reliability evaluation technology and secure technological competitiveness by making full use of the world-class accelerator facilities held by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute."