The term “quantum” is used so frequently across industries that it risks losing meaning. Yet, in the world of semiconductors, quantum design is no longer a distant aspiration or marketing slogan. It is becoming a legitimate engineering domain. As devices scale down and materials approach their fundamental physical limits, quantum effects are not only showing up, but they are also influencing how devices are built. At the SPIE lithography conference, Erik Hosler, a consultant and former EUV lithography specialist, underscored this rising relevance, pointing to quantum systems as the next logical expansion in the semiconductor roadmap.
Quantum design represents a shift from building devices that ignore quantum mechanics to intentionally using it. In the past, quantum phenomena were considered side effects or failure mechanisms. Now, they are part of the toolkit. It includes designing materials, circuits, and even patterning processes that work within or exploit quantum behaviors from tunneling to superposition. And while practical quantum computing is still maturing, quantum design is already starting to reshape how engineers think about lithography, metrology, and device architecture.
Understanding the Foundations of Quantum Design
Quantum design in semiconductors means accounting for and leveraging the quantum mechanical properties of electrons, photons, and materials at atomic and near-atomic scales. It involves behaviors such as discrete energy states, tunneling currents, quantum confinement, and entanglement.
In conventional CMOS technology, many of these phenomena are considered challenges to be mitigated. For instance, tunneling can cause leakage in very thin gate oxides. But in quantum systems, those same behaviors can be used as mechanisms for data storage, switching, or sensing.
As feature sizes approach 1 to 2 nanometers, classical assumptions begin to break down. Electron behavior becomes more probabilistic, and charge carriers do not always follow expected paths. It makes quantum-aware modeling essential, even for chips that are not classified as quantum devices. Designing around or through this uncertainty is becoming part of standard engineering practice.
The Role of Materials and Interfaces
Quantum behavior is especially sensitive to material properties such as purity, crystal structure, defect density, and interface roughness. A single atomic-scale imperfection can introduce decoherence or noise in a quantum process. As a result, quantum design starts at the material level.
Semiconductor materials like silicon, silicon carbide, and gallium arsenide are being re-evaluated for their potential to reliably host quantum states. Superconducting materials, topological insulators, and defect-based platforms like nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond are also in development for specific quantum architectures.
The integration of these materials into a semiconductor process flow is complex. Many require ultra-low temperatures, nonstandard etch chemistries, or deposition techniques that are incompatible with traditional CMOS. That is where quantum design becomes collaborative, as engineers, physicists, and materials scientists must co-develop platforms that meet the needs of stability and manufacturability.
From Device to Architecture
Quantum design goes beyond individual devices. It extends into how circuits are structured and how information is processed. While classical logic uses binary bits, quantum logic uses qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. It fundamentally changes how computing architectures are conceived.
Even outside quantum computing, architectural shifts are occurring. Designers are using quantum-level understanding to create more precise analog circuits, better low-noise amplifiers, and sensors that operate based on quantum tunneling or field interactions.
Some of the most promising near-term applications are in quantum-enhanced sensors, where quantum coherence is used to detect magnetic fields, acceleration, or temperature changes with extreme sensitivity. These are already finding uses in medical imaging, navigation, and environmental sensing.
Integration with Existing Fabrication Ecosystems
One of the biggest hurdles to scaling quantum design is integration. While many quantum devices have been demonstrated in academic or low-volume lab settings, building them in a commercial fabrication environment presents practical challenges.
Process uniformity, contamination control, and test metrology are all needed to meet quantum-grade tolerances. Packaging becomes particularly complex. Many quantum devices are sensitive to heat, vibration, and electromagnetic noise, making traditional packaging unsuitable. Efforts are underway to create cryo-compatible packaging standards as well as scalable interconnects that preserve quantum state fidelity.
Some foundries are beginning to offer pilot platforms for integrating quantum-compatible materials into semiconductor workflows. These early moves are important not just for developing the technology but for testing how it can scale alongside established digital logic production.
Metrology and Patterning at Quantum Scales
Metrology has become even more critical in quantum design. The measurement itself can collapse quantum states, so noninvasive or indirect inspection methods must be developed. These include optical spectroscopy, quantum resonant probes, and AI-enhanced data reconstruction from minimal measurements.
Patterning technologies must also be developed. Extreme ultraviolet lithography is currently pushing boundaries in classical device manufacturing, but quantum devices often require even finer alignment, smoother interfaces, and defect-free structures. Techniques like atomic layer deposition, bottom-up synthesis, and novel resist platforms are under investigation for their potential to meet these new standards.
Research, Conferences, and Expanding Curiosity
Quantum design benefits from a mindset that values exploration over certainty. It requires researchers and engineers to ask questions that stretch traditional definitions of a transistor, a circuit, or even a chip. As the field expands, technical conferences are evolving to accommodate these conversations.
Erik Hosler points out, “Last year, we included MEMS and MOEMS, and we will keep expanding to quantum to make this a place to ask questions … Lots of great things are going on, and something will emerge.” This expansion reflects not only an interest in quantum topics but a recognition that solutions to complex semiconductor challenges may now come from unexpected places. Conferences like SPIE are actively creating forums where quantum ideas are not sidelined but considered part of the broader roadmap.
Investment and Industry Momentum
Major chipmakers and national research agencies are investing heavily in quantum design, not just for computation but for sensors, secure communication, and simulation. Programs in the United States, Europe, and Asia are funding quantum R&D at the university, startup, and foundry levels.
Private investment is growing, too. Companies are forming partnerships to explore the co-fabrication of quantum devices, cryo-electronics, and quantum-safe infrastructure. This momentum indicates that quantum design is maturing, not just as a research topic but as a commercial and strategic concern.
From Concept to Capability
Quantum design is more than a buzzword. It is a new layer of semiconductor engineering that is emerging in parallel with classical approaches. It challenges assumptions, expands toolsets, and offers new ways of building functionality into silicon, compound materials, and hybrid systems.
As semiconductors enter an era defined less by transistor counts and more by system intelligence and adaptability, quantum design will play an increasingly visible role. It will not replace classical electronics, but it will augment and inform them.
For engineers and decision-makers, the key is to treat quantum not as hype but as an opportunity. Asking the right questions today about materials, measurement, architecture, and scale will shape what is possible tomorrow. In that sense, quantum design represents not just technology but a mindset shift, one that is already underway.