Low-cost and large-area electronics, roll-to-roll processing and beyond.

A new emerging trend in the design of modern semiconductor devices dedicated to scaling-up, rather than reducing, their dimensions is presented. To realize volume manufacturing, alternative semiconductor materials with superior performance, fabricated by innovative processing methods, are essential. In our short presentation a general overview of the material and technology evolution in the area of macroelectronics, which grew in the shadow of the well-established chip technology, will be given. The major challenges of large-scale production will be discussed. Particular attention will be focused on describing advanced, short-term heat treatment approaches, which offer a range of advantages compared to conventional annealing methods. There is no doubt that large area and flexible electronic systems constitute an important research topic for the semiconductor industry. The ability to fabricate highly efficient macroelectronics by inexpensive processes will have a significant impact on a range of diverse technology sectors. A new era “towards semiconductor volume manufacturing…” has begun.