Hengyuan Photonics created the world's first 12-inch optical-grade lithium niobate crystal in May 2024. [Photo/Jinan Daily]

Shandong Hengyuan Semiconductor Co Ltd (Hengyuan Photonics) created the world's first 12-inch optical-grade lithium niobate crystal in May 2024, which was for China's optoelectronics, as reported by a Shandong Government Work Report.

Lithium niobate crystal is a multifunctional material with piezoelectric, electro-optic, acousto-optic, and nonlinear optical properties. Its physical and chemical stability makes it the highest-performing photonic material discovered yet, with the best overall properties among artificial crystals. It is the core foundational material for integrated optoelectronic technology.

Studies show that microwave photonic chips developed on the lithium niobate optical platform can process and compute ultrafast analog electronic signals using photons. These chips are 1,000 times faster than traditional electronic processors, consume less energy, and have broad applications, including wireless communication, high-resolution radar, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and image/video processing.

"The most critical challenge in growing lithium niobate crystals is maintaining balance at the crystal growth interface. The larger the crystal size, the larger the growth interface, making it increasingly difficult to control," said Peng Liguo, general manager of Hengyuan.

He added that the technical team at Hengyuan overcame this challenge by studying the dynamics of crystal growth and optimizing the material and structural design of the thermal field to regulate the thermal gradient. After repeated experiments, a breakthrough resulted in the world's first 12-inch lithium niobate crystal growing technology.