SOMERSET, N.J., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ: EMKR), a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite, solar power and wireless communications markets, today announced that a team including EMCORE, Group4 Labs and Engineers at the U.S. Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) have demonstrated the world's first successful fabrication of operational gallium nitride (GaN)-on-Diamond High-Electron-Mobility-Transistor (HEMT) device. AlGaN/GaN epitaxial transistor layers were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at EMCORE and atomically attached to chemically vapor deposited (CVD) diamond substrate by Group4 Labs. The AFRL team fabricated the transistors. This achievement highlights the feasibility of producing GaN-based radio-frequency (RF) devices closely thermally coupled to diamond substrates to maximize heat extraction from these devices. The team expects this technology to improve power density and efficiency of devices operating at high frequencies due to higher packing density and better heat dissipation in the immediate vicinity of the active device area. This novel process has a wide-range of possible applications, including high performance GaN-based RF devices, high brightness LEDs and Laser Diodes. This work was supported in part by a DARPA-funded Cooperative Agreement between EMCORE and AFRL.

"We are excited by the promise of this technology combining the most robust semiconductor material with the best heat spreader," commented Dr. Ivan Eliashevich, Director of R&D at EMCORE Corporation's EMD division. "Epitaxial wafers based on a GaN-on-Diamond platform should enable device manufacturers to push the limits of high-power performance and reliability across a wide range of applications."

About EMCORE

EMCORE Corporation offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor-based products for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite, solar power and wireless communications markets. EMCORE's Fiber Optic segment offers optical components, subsystems and systems for high-speed data and telecommunications networks, cable television (CATV) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP). EMCORE's Photovoltaic segment provides products for both satellite and terrestrial applications. For satellite applications, EMCORE offers high efficiency Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar cells, Covered Interconnect Cells (CICs) and panels. For terrestrial applications, EMCORE is adapting its high-efficiency GaAs solar cells for use in solar concentrator systems. Our Electronic Materials and Devices segment provides radio frequency (RF) transistor materials for high bandwidth wireless communications systems. Through its joint venture participation in GELcore, LLC, EMCORE plays a significant role in developing and commercializing next-generation High- Brightness LED technology for use in the general and specialty illumination markets. For further information about EMCORE, visit http://www.emcore.com .

About Group4 Labs

Group4 Labs, LLC (Menlo Park, CA) is an extreme materials company founded in April 2003. The privately-held company develops and manufactures extreme semiconductor materials for a wide variety of applications in the advanced electronics and photonics industries. For more information, please visit www.Group4Labs.com

About AFRL

U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/SNDD)(WPAFB, OH) conducts basic research and exploratory development programs in the areas of high speed digital devices, microwave and millimeter wave power devices and wide bandwidth amplifiers to meet unique Air Force needs for aerospace radar, electronic warfare and communication systems. For more information, please visit http://www.afrl.af.mil/sn/snd/sndd.html .

Disclaimer

The information provided herein may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statement or implication that the products described in this press release (i) will be successfully introduced or marketed, (ii) will be qualified and purchased by our customers, or (iii) will perform to any particular specifications or performance or reliability standards. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that, if realized, could materially impair the Company's results of operations, business, and financial condition. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (a) the failure of the products (i) to perform as expected without material defects, (ii) to be manufactured at acceptable volumes, yields, and cost, (iii) to be qualified and accepted by our customers, and (iv) to successfully compete with products offered by our competitors, and (b) factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and EMCORE does not assume any obligation to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Web site: http://www.emcore.com/
http://www.Group4Labs.com/
http://www.afrl.af.mil/sn/snd/sndd.html/