Uviquity releases world's first chip level 229nm deep ultraviolet laser

Recently, Uviquity announced the launch of the world's first chip level 229nm deep ultraviolet laser. This is the world's first laser made from a single semiconductor chip at this wavelength, providing collimated, narrow linewidth, and high spectral purity output, suitable for demanding analysis and detection applications.

  Uviquity is a deep technology company that develops integrated photonics in the ultraviolet band. According to its introduction, the laser is built on Uviquity's aluminum nitride (AlN) photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform, achieving deep ultraviolet output through second harmonic generation (SHG) in a proprietary AlN waveguide.

  229nm deep ultraviolet light has analytical capabilities that cannot be achieved in longer wavelength bands, including resonance enhanced detection of biological and chemical features, as well as a measurement window with almost no background fluorescence interference in most organic samples. This laser supports multiple deep ultraviolet spectroscopy techniques within this wavelength range, including Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and absorption spectroscopy.

At present, developers of instruments that require deep ultraviolet radiation typically combine multiple ultraviolet light sources based on lasers, lamps, and LEDs. However, these light sources have significant deficiencies in spectral purity, brightness, lifespan, morphology, and cost, which constrain instrument design. In many applications, the only light source that can meet performance requirements is the bulky and expensive desktop system. Uviquity integrates the performance of deep ultraviolet lasers onto a single chip, packaged into compact optoelectronic devices that only require low-voltage electrical input to operate. Its sturdy form and on-site deployment make it suitable for handheld, online, and embedded instrument design.

The application areas of this product include semiconductor detection and measurement, real-time industrial process analysis, continuous gas analysis, reagent free water quality monitoring, and trace level national defense sensing. Uviquity will begin providing samples to OEM partners in the fourth quarter of 2026.

We have had in-depth exchanges with scientists and engineers in these application fields, "said Scott Burroughs, co-founder and CEO of Uviquity." They are well aware of what deep ultraviolet light energy at these wavelengths brings. What they have been lacking is a compact, reliable light source that can develop products around it. This is exactly what we are changing.