Swissbn

SwissBN is a specialized materials science company operating in the advanced semiconductor market. It originated from the 2D Materials project within the low dimensional systems group at the Physik-Institut of the University of Zurich. The company addresses a critical challenge in next-generation electronics: the scalable production of high-quality, wafer-scale hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). This material is essential for manufacturing advanced 2D electronic devices, particularly those based on graphene. When graphene is encapsulated with h-BN, it can result in devices that are significantly faster and smaller than traditional silicon-based electronics. SwissBN leverages the expertise of its team of surface physicists, who have worked with boron nitride materials since 1997, to fabricate these highly demanded materials using a cutting-edge chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

The company's business model centers on supplying these specialized h-BN materials to semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions. Its product portfolio includes single-layer h-BN on rhodium/silicon substrates up to 4 inches, transfer of single and multi-layer BN onto customer-provided substrates, and borazine dosers for CVD applications. By providing a key enabling material that was not previously available at the required quality and scale, SwissBN allows its clients to overcome heat dissipation issues and enhance the durability and performance of electronic devices like solid-state drives (SSD). The firm's laboratory is equipped with a high-temperature, 4-inch wafer ultra-high vacuum CVD system, complemented by advanced growth monitoring and characterization tools.

The founding team includes individuals with deep roots in surface physics and materials science research at the University of Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute. The team listed on early documents includes Huanyao Cun, Adrian Hemmi, and Thomas Greber. Key personnel associated with the underlying research include Dr. Matthias Muntwiler, a senior scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institut with extensive expertise in photoelectron spectroscopy of 2D materials, and Prof. Dr. Marcella Iannuzzi from the University of Zurich, a specialist in computational materials science and density functional theory simulations, particularly for h-BN on transition metals. Their collective, long-standing research background provides the foundational expertise for SwissBN's fabrication capabilities. Since March 2025, the company has been connected to the Institute of Electromagnetic Fields at ETH Zurich and planned a move to the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center, signaling its deepening integration within Switzerland's advanced technology ecosystem. Keywords: hexagonal boron nitride, h-BN, 2D materials, chemical vapor deposition, CVD, semiconductor materials, graphene encapsulation, surface physics, University of Zurich spin-off, advanced electronics, wafer-scale fabrication, dielectric insulator, thermal conductivity, electronic devices, material science, nanotechnology, UHV system, borazine, single photon emitters