IQE announces new 6" wafer capability for ...

Cardiff, UK. 12 May 2010: IQE plc (AIM: IQE, "IQE" or the "Group"), the leading
global supplier of advanced semiconductor epitaxial wafer products and wafer
services to the semiconductor industry, has developed epitaxial processes for
producing high efficiency, triple junction concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar
cells with comparable results on both 6 inch diameter germanium (Ge) and gallium
arsenide (GaAs) substrates.

IQE has been supplying the global chip industry as a pure-play contract
manufacturer for more than two decades and is established as a leading player in
GaAs based epiwafer products for wireless applications including RF components
for mobile phone handsets. The Group, which has manufacturing sites across
Europe, Asia, and the USA has been working with a number of key partners during
the last two years to develop advanced, multi-junction solar technologies for
the provision of large scale renewable energy.

Increased wafer sizes are an essential step in ensuring the provision of high
quality and highly efficient solar power generation at lowest possible cost.
Current CPV technology is based on 4" diameter wafers but IQE's new capability
has demonstrated unsurpassed performance and excellent uniformity across 6"
(150mm) diameter wafers. Peak multi-sun device performance is the same for both
types of substrate and approaches the best previously achieved on 4" substrates
using the same process.

Dr. Drew Nelson, Group CEO and President said:

"Delivering 6" diameter wafers for CPV applications is an important milestone
for IQE and our experience as the world leading outsource manufacturer of GaAs
based wafers has enabled us to develop the capability to produce multi-junction
solar cells on both GaAs and Ge substrates with comparable results, fully
scalable from our well-established 4" process in terms of performance,
uniformity, and yield.

"Our 6" CPV wafer products have generated a great deal of interest at both the
cell supplier and systems-supplier level, and have demonstrated excellent
performance and uniformities on which we will continue to build"






Contacts:


IQE plc
Press/Investors: Chris Meadows ([phone])
Technical (UK): Andrew Johnson ([phone])
Technical (USA): Walter Wohlmuth ([phone])

Note to Editors

IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers with
products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative
outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a 'one
stop shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading semiconductor
manufacturers.

IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply
bespoke semiconductor wafers ('epi-wafers') to the major chip manufacturing
companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips which form the key
components of virtually all high technology systems. IQE is unique in being able
to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms.

IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer, communication, computing
and industrial applications, including a complete range of wafer products for
the wireless industry, such as mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure,
Wi-Fi, WiMAX, base stations, GPS, and satellite communications; optical
communications, optical storage (CD, DVD), laser optical mouse, laser printers &
photocopiers, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical products, barcode, ultra
high brightness LEDs, a variety of advanced silicon based systems and high
efficiency concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells.

The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to outsource wafer
production to specialist foundries such as IQE in order to reduce overall wafer
costs and accelerate time to market.

IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customised materials for
specific applications and offers specialist technical staff to manufacture to
specification either at its own facilities or on the customer's own sites. The
Group is also able to leverage its global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost
of raw materials. In this way IQE's outsourced services, provide compelling
benefits in terms of flexibility and predictability of cost, thereby
significantly reducing operating risk.

IQE comprises seven operating facilities located in Cardiff (two), Milton Keynes
and Bath in the UK; in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Somerset, New Jersey in the
USA; and Singapore. The Group also has 11 sales offices located in major
economic centres worldwide.





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