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Phase change materials and technology is the next frontier for the semi sector both small and large scale. Currently the uses are in thermal management and coming in memory, but this is only the beginning. Phase change will become a key product in many areas with many triggers from temperature, light, voltage, PH, microwaves, radio signals, pressure and many other areas. Combined with Mems, phase change materials offer a whole new frontier for semi devices. Some of these will be large format like solar panels and display screens and others will be just a few molecules for sensors. The depth and breadth of the semi sector has no limits and the line between the physical and electrical world will continue to blur. It is the companies that embrace a flexible, dynamic culture that knows how to build relationships outside their normal realm that will know no bounds. To say there will be a drop off in business discounts this and other technologies that even though over the horizon are there for those that look. The semi sector has been the key driver in nanotechnology and will continue to be. The semi sector has grown dramatically in breadth and depth with no end in sight.
Did I miss some recent progress ? Phase change memory is already promised to be the next big thing for more than 10 years but up to now could not really deliver on its promise. MRAM (magnetic RAM) seems to be making real progress recently and actually get some traction, so I see this currently having more potential than PCM.
Phase change technology has been here for decades and has been in use outside the semi sector. Crossbar is still not out there yet, but TSM is working on it for on chip memory. Only time will tell, although I have written about it in several areas for over six years here and it's still a work in progress. Energy storage is also one very interesting area of exploration. Ice is the original phase change technology.
