Archer Materials well-funded to advance qubit processor and biochip technologies

Archer Materials (ASX: AXE) closed out the December quarter 2022 (Q2 FY2023) well-funded with $24.3 million in cash to continue advancing its unique qubit processor and biochip technologies.

The company is focused on progressing its ¹²CQ quantum computing qubit process chip (¹²CQ chip) and its “lab-on-a-chip” biochip.

Archer’s ¹²CQ chip is being developed to enable mobile quantum computing devices.

Commenting on Archer’s activities during Q2 FY2023, executive chairman Greg English said the company continued showing the ¹²CQ chip can be compatible with existing technologies after using standard and commercially available metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip technology to detect quantum information on the ¹²CQ chip at room temperature.

CMOS is the primary technology used in designing chips for the semiconductor industry. It is broadly used to form integrated circuits in numerous and varied applications.

Archer expects this technology will continue to be used in the long term, and as a result it was important to demonstrate “functional incorporation” with its ¹²CQ chip.

“In November, Archer in conjunction with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), used powerful supercomputers to accurately simulate the behaviour of Archer’s ¹²CQ qubit material,” Mr English explained.

The complex atom-structure of the ¹²CQ chip requires the “enormous power” of supercomputers for predictive modelling and realistic simulations of qubit material properties.

Results from this work validate Archer’s unique qubit properties, including confirming its intrinsic metallic-like character.

Mr English said the simulations will support the design and development of more complex devices required for the future operation of ¹²CQ chip technology.

Biochip

While advancing its ¹²CQ chip technology, Archer is also continuing work on its biochip.

This technology aims to integrate graphene field effect transistors (gFETs) into advanced fluidic systems to create miniaturised lab-on-a-chip device platforms for medical diagnostics.

Mr English said the company had made “considerable biochip development work” during Q2 FY2023, including the fabrication of an operational liquid-gated gFET.

“The transistor consists of a single-atom thick sheet of graphene to act as an ultrasensitive sensor and is an exciting development towards realising an operational biochip technology at Archer,” he explained.

“In addition to the fabrication of the gFET, the Archer team developed an early-stage prototype of an integrated biochip platform with automated liquid sample handling and readout.”

Mr English added this system will enable Archer’s team to accurately, reliably, reproducibly, and quickly obtain data related to the biochips.

Creating value

Archer has secured patents for its qubit processor technology in the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and Australia.

In developing its technologies, Archer has access to more than $1 billion-worth of deep-tech infrastructure and facilities.

According to Archer, it is the only ASX-listed entity developing a qubit processor and among only a few worldwide.