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November 27, 2007...When Vladimir Dmitriev started Technology & Device International Inc. (www.tdii.com) ten years ago, few were in the bulk GaN game with an eye toward producing viable, commercial product. With his seemingly unorthodox method of growing GaN and AlGaN single crystal material, some didn't take TDI all that seriously. Fortunately, the USA government did and Vladimir's HVPE growth method has been funded by SBIR funding from agencies, like the Missile Defense Agency, ever since. Those of you who have a tendency to march to a different tune as a means of making their own pioneering contribution to the compounds might just learn something from Vladimir's success story.

Each year, for the last 10 years, I've received a lovely Christmas card from TDI and it always arrived as the first of many from business friends. This year, when I opened the envelope, it was a gracious greeting that proudly re-announced the company's 10th Anniversary that began in August, saying: "We'd like to thank you for helping make it possible. We hope our relationship with you will continue for many years to come. ...Sincerely, Technologies & Devices Intl." In all my 33 years as a technology journalist, I've never received such a classy thank you note and I'm sure others on TDI's holiday card list feel the same. This week's McDonald Report column is my public reply and my way of saying "You're welcome!" by sharing with readers my reminiscence of Vladimir and his wonderful group of superb international wide bandgap materials researchers and developers.

I first met Vladimir and his "students" in 1993 in Washington DC at one of the early ICSCRM conferences. That was the landmark meet put on by Howard University, which saw to it that for the first time, the conference would include three groups from Russia's famed Ioffee Institute. Prior to that, the Asian, Americans and European compound semi community knew very few Russians beyond a small handful of early immigrants, like Jacques Pankove and Michael Shur. The history of the Russian connection is well-documented, by the way, in our 2001 video workshop, called GaN 101, which features Jacques, Michael and Vladimir. There are actually a few copies of those tapes still kicking around that can be dusted off for CS industry history buffs.

Back then, the USA government, spearheaded by Max Yoder, saw to it that the Russians attended ICSCRM in '93 in DC, but due to limited funds they had to be housed at the less expensive Howard Inn near the University instead of at the classy hotel where the actual conference was held. As a struggling journalist on an equally limited budget, I too stayed at the "lesser" hotel. As a result, I had a great time getting to know the Russians. Vladimir's group was clearly the most outgoing... and obviously the most fun. As I helped them cope with their first trip to the USA, they reciprocated by inviting me to their informal hotel room party where suitcases were opened with all sorts of Russian vodka and goodies spilling out. That was just the first of such rowdy celebrations over the years with Vladimir's group. Those "kids" definitely know how to party... and dance, especially to good old USA rock 'n roll.

Max also saw to it that Vladimir's Ioffee Group had backing and support as Cree's then-fledging Eastern European Division. The goal was obviously to capture Russia's "Cold War" expertise, which turned out to be pretty much the same as what had been developed in Asia, Western Europe, and the USA. All that's simply colorful history now, but I thought you'd like to be reminded that wide bandgap expertise isn't anything new. It's been a long hard struggle to get to this point, and nobody struggled harder than our Russian colleagues to get to the leadership point where a company like TDI is today.

When Vladimir started TDI ten years ago, he did it with faith in his unique hydride vapor phase epitaxial growth process. VPE has been around for decades, and was especially favored by the Russians. But as demonstrated by TDI, the modified version appears tailor-made for GaN growth. Just days ago, the company announced it had been awarded a U.S. patent for their HVPE equipment. (Ref: our headline news, Nov. 21, 2007 that includes a description and link to the patent. According to TDI, their production tool allows long lasting, high growth rate processes for high quality GaN and AlGaN single crystal materials and brings with it the promise of lower cost, lower defect GaN substrates, which are especially sought after by the solid state lighting industry. As Vladimir was quoted as saying upon the issuance of the patent, "This equipment will enable significant improvements in quality, stability and efficiency of crystal growth technology. It will be applied to fabrication of a variety of products including multi-wafer manufacturing of free-standing and bulk GaN substrates..."

Technology aside, when I think of TDI I think most about the people. I have never seen a company of such united, warm hearted, genuine people. I've heard many Russian experiences over the years and retold many of their stories in various publications. TDI's and Vladimir's stands out, because he knew what he wanted to do and why he wanted to contribute. He stayed with his cause and as a result, he and his employees have thrived in the USA. Happy 10th Anniversary, TDI, and best wishes for the winter holidays. It has indeed been my personal pleasure helping publicize your progress and your successes, and we here at Compound Semi Online Inc. look forward to hearing about and sharing with our readers your continuing contributions to our field.

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