Zero-Nuclear-Spin Isotopes: Bridging Electronic Gases, Semiconductor Fabs & Quantum Computing
ABSTRACT
This presentation examines how aerodynamic separation and laser-based isotope enrichment are enabling production of isotopically enriched silane and other gases at the purity levels leading-edge chip fabrication now demands — and why natural-abundance feedstocks are increasingly insufficient to meet those requirements.
The second half turns to an emerging application at the frontier of this supply chain: zero-nuclear-spin (0-spin) isotopes as an enabling material for quantum computing. Nuclear spin noise is a primary decoherence mechanism limiting qubit fidelity in solid-state quantum processors, and isotopically purified materials — delivered as enriched gases and converted into device-grade substrates — offer a pathway to dramatically extended coherence times. A key enabler here is compatibility with existing fab infrastructure: isotopically enriched silicon-28 is being integrated as an epitaxial layer on FD-SOI (fully depleted silicon-on-insulator) wafers using the same deposition and processing tools already deployed in modern semiconductor fabs, allowing spin-qubit device fabrication to leverage established manufacturing platforms rather than requiring entirely new infrastructure. We will examine the isotopic specifications emerging for this market, the production chemistry involved, and where silicon-28 fits alongside the broader family of specialty and fluorinated gases the industry depends on.
The session closes with a view on how supply chains for these specialized gases are evolving, and what the industry needs to do to be ready as both conventional fab demand and quantum hardware demand inflect.
BIOGRAPHY
Natalie Grancharov Camacho serves as the Vice President of Business Development at ASP Isotopes, leading commercial strategy for specialty isotopically pure materials supporting next-generation technologies, including advanced semiconductors and quantum computing. Natalie has built an impressive career over more than two decades in semiconductor technology, establishing herself as a respected expert within the manufacturing sector. She has held key leadership roles across several technologies, most recently serving as Director at Intel Corporation. Raised in California’s Silicon Valley, Natalie holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics with an emphasis on Semiconductor Device Electronics from the University of California, Davis.