News

12/10/2002
Press Release

Isonics Receives Order for Silicon-28 To Be Used To Produce Epitaxial Wafers for Leading Semiconductor Manufacturers
Tuesday December 10, 7:31 am ET GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2002--Isonics Corporation (NASDAQ:ISON - News), a leader in the development of isotopically engineered semiconductor materials, a supplier of silicon-on-insulator wafers, isotopes for life sciences and health care applications, and homeland security technologies and products, announced that it has received an initial order for silicon-28 trichlorosilane from Silex Systems Limited, (ASX: SLX - News). Silicon-28 is the isotopically pure form of normal silicon made by purification at the sub-atomic level. This high degree of purity improves silicon-28's thermal conductivity by over 60% and enables semiconductor chips to operate at lower temperatures or operate faster, improving product performance or manufacturing yield. The initial order from Silex Systems Limited is valued at $200,000. Silex Systems Limited, (ASX: SLX - News) is an Australian company developing laser isotope separation capability for a number of materials, including silicon-28. Silex announced yesterday that it has entered into a collaboration with Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Corporation (SUMCO), the world's second largest manufacturer of silicon wafers, to investigate the commercial potential of silicon- 28 wafers. Silex has stated that it believes it could have its own commercial production of silicon-28 as soon as 2006. Isonics indicated that it holds an exclusive license to key intellectual property covering silicon-28 wafers and their use to manufacture semiconductor devices. Isonics plans to continue to support SUMCO/Silex in its requirements for silicon-28 in both development and commercial production until Silex can bring its potentially lower cost technology on-line." Dr. Stephen J. Burden, Isonics' VP of Semiconductor Materials commented, "The SUMCO/Silex collaboration is an indication of the momentum that is rapidly building for high thermal conductivity silicon-28. Now, two of the top three wafer manufacturers in the world have the capability of supplying silicon-28 epitaxial wafers. According to Silex, SUMCO will produce epitaxial wafers for several leading semiconductor manufacturers that have already requested evaluation lots. Isonics and Silex have been cooperating since 1999 as both companies have similar interests in stable isotopes, particularly silicon. Working together, we can speed the acceptance of silicon-28 by the semiconductor industry and ensure that an adequate supply will be available." About Silicon-28 Silicon-28 is the isotopically pure form of normal silicon made by purification at the sub-atomic level. This high degree of purity improves silicon-28's thermal conductivity by over 60% and enables semiconductor chips to operate at lower temperatures or operate faster, improving product performance or manufacturing yield. Isonics is leading the development of silicon-28 and has multiple programs underway with leading wafer manufacturers and semiconductor chip producers. About Isonics Corporation Isonics is a world leader in isotopically engineered materials and produces isotopically pure silicon-28 chemicals and wafers and silicon-on-insulator wafers (SOI) for the semiconductor industry. Isonics also markets and sells stable isotopes for the health care industry such as Oxygen-18 for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The company is also a leading supplier of several radioactive isotopes used in medical imaging and therapy. Isonics has recently established a subsidiary, IUT Detection Technologies, to address the needs of the homeland security marketplace. For additional information visit http://www.isonics.com/. Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein, and which may result in the parties being unable or unwilling to complete the transaction described herein. Further, the Company operates in industries where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the Company's control. Other important factors that the Company believes might cause such differences are discussed in the risk factors detailed in the Company's 10-KSB for the year ended April 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which include the Company's cash flow difficulties, dependence on significant customers, and rapid development of technology, among other risks. In assessing forward-looking statements contained herein, readers are urged to carefully read all cautionary statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Isonics Corporation Dr. Stephen J. Burden, 303/279-7900 sburden@isonics.com http://www.isonics.com/ or Investor Awareness, Inc. Tony Schor or Paul Arndt, 847/945-2222 investawar@aol.com http://www.investorawareness.com/