Browse Topic: Semiconductors

Items (359)
Find
Quantum-Limit-Approaching Chemical Sensing ChipTBMG-3863903/01/2021
University at Buffalo researchers are reporting an advancement of a chemical sensing chip that could lead to handheld devices that detect trace chemicals — everything from illicit drugs to pollution — as quickly as a breathalyzer identifies alcohol.
Supercool Mini-ThermometerTBMG-3833501/01/2021
Researchers have developed a miniature superconducting thermometer that measures temperatures below 1 kelvin (-272.15 °C or -457.87 °F), down to 50 millikelvin (mK) and potentially 5 mK. It is smaller, faster, and more convenient than conventional cryogenic thermometers for chip-scale devices and could be mass-produced.
New Method Makes Computer Memory from Titanium OxideTBMG-3834001/01/2021
A team has developed a method to imbue computer chips that power machine-learning applications with more processing power by using a common material found in house paint in an analog memory device that enables highly energy-efficient machine inference operations. The material, titanium oxide, is a commonly made material used in house paint. It is an oxide, which means it already contains oxygen. Subtracting some of the oxygen creates oxygen vacancies that make the material electrically conductive. Those oxygen vacancies can now store electrical data, giving almost any device more computing power.
Platform for All-Optical ComputingTBMG-3836001/01/2021
Researchers have developed a new platform for all-optical computing, meaning computations done solely with beams of light. Most computation right now uses hard materials such as metal wires, semiconductors, and photodiodes to couple electronics to light. All-optical computing removes the rigid components and controls light with light.
Atomically Thin Light-Emitting Device for Invisible DisplaysTBMG-3820812/01/2020
A bright-light-emitting device that is millimeters wide and fully transparent was developed. The light-emitting material in this device is a monolayer semiconductor that is three atoms thick, allowing it to conform to curved surfaces.
E-Tongue Nanosensor ArrayTBMG-3799511/01/2020
E-Tongue, a patent-pending technology, is comprised of a silicon-based interdigitated electrode (IDE) array with nanostructured materials that can detect biomolecules and chemical compounds in a liquid sample.
Fluoride Materials for Extra-Thin Computer ChipsTBMG-3782710/01/2020
Smaller and more compact is the direction in which computer chips are moving. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are considered to have great potential since they are as thin as a material can possibly be — in extreme cases, they consist of only one single layer of atoms. This makes it possible to produce novel electronic components with tiny dimensions, high speed, and optimal efficiency.
Comb-on-a-Chip Optical Ruler Measures Colors of Light WavesTBMG-3763409/01/2020
Just as a meter stick with hundreds of tick marks can be used to measure distances with great precision, a device known as a laser frequency comb — with its hundreds of evenly spaced, sharply defined frequencies — can be used to measure the colors of light waves with great precision.
Radiation-Tolerant FPGAs Solve Spacecraft Design ChallengesTBMG-3761609/01/2020
Satellite and spacecraft system designers have a few different options when selecting field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) semiconductors. One FPGA option is commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components that reduce component unit cost and lead time, but they are generally not reliable enough, must be up-screened (which increases cost and engineering resources), and require soft and hard Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) to mitigate radiation effects in space.
Hermetically Sealed SemiconductorsTBMG-3764709/01/2020
Tomorrow’s electronics are getting smaller so researchers are looking for tiny components that function reliably in increasingly narrow configurations. Promising elements include the chemical compounds indium selenide (InSe) and gallium selenide (GaSe). In the form of ultra-thin layers, they form two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. But they degrade when they get in contact with air during manufacturing.
Wearable Device Monitors HealthTBMG-3703606/01/2020
Engineers have demonstrated a flexible device that harvests the heat energy from the human body to monitor health. The device surpasses other flexible harvesters that use body heat as the sole energy source.
Nano-Infused Ceramic Can Report its own HealthTBMG-3683005/01/2020
A ceramic was developed that becomes more electrically conductive under elastic strain and less conductive under plastic strain. The material could lead to a new generation of sensors embedded into structures like buildings, bridges, and aircraft able to monitor their own health.
New Material Enables Stable Semiconductor Neutron DetectorsTBMG-3685905/01/2020
With the ability to sense smuggled nuclear materials, highly efficient neutron detectors are critical for national security. Currently, there are two classes of detectors that either use helium gas or flashes of light. These detectors are very large — sometimes the size of a wall.
Fabrication and Electrical Characterization of Correlated Oxide Field Effect Switching Devices for High Speed ElectronicsTBMG-3660604/01/2020
Metal insulator transitions (MITs) in oxides are an intriguing problem from both a fundamental materials physics and an applied technology perspective. Though the precise roles of electron correlations and lattice distortions on the phase transition remains an active area of research, many recent theoretical studies have suggested intimate interplay among the orbital splitting/polarization, correlation effects, and Peierls dimerization in the 3d1 system. Occupied states have been probed by x ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a rough structure of unoccupied 3d-like states have been deduced by O K-edge x-ray absorption measurements. NbO2, a 4d1 system, like VO2 crystallizes in a distorted rutile type structure with Nb dimers and undergoes a temperature induced MIT, albeit at a considerably higher temperature of ~1083 K. It is commonly accepted that because 4d orbital valence states are more dispersed in both space and energy, Mott physics is less important in 4d transition metal
High Thermally Conductive Polymeric CompositesTBMG-3639504/01/2020
There has been much interest in developing polymeric nanocomposites with ultra-high thermal conductivities such as with exfoliated graphite or carbon nanotubes. These materials exhibit thermal conductivity of 3,000 W/mK measured experimentally and up to 6,600 W/mK predicted from theoretical calculations. But when added to polymers, the expected thermal conductivity enhancement is not realized due to poor interfacial thermal transfer.
Celebrating Women in Engineering & Science: Renee Bernstein, CEO, Cotronics CorporationTBMG-3616703/01/2020
Wearable Health Tech Gets Efficiency UpgradeTBMG-3625403/01/2020
North Carolina State University engineers have demonstrated a flexible device that harvests the heat energy from the human body to monitor health. The device surpasses all other flexible harvesters that use body heat as the sole energy source.
Improved Model Predicts Heat Loss in Gallium Nitride SemiconductorsTBMG-3618903/01/2020
Engineers have found that the model currently used to predict heat loss in a common semiconductor material does not apply in all situations. By testing the thermal properties of gallium nitride semiconductors fabricated using four popular methods, they discovered that some techniques produce materials that perform better than others.
Weyl Semimetals (WSM) for Electronics ApplicationsTBMG-3605202/01/2020
The major factor determining transport properties of solids is the number of electron states in a vicinity of Fermi level. In equilibrium, no macroscopic flow of electrons exists and, therefore, in order to create such flow, electrons must be excited over their equilibrium distribution. However, electrons with energies well below the Fermi level (compared to the characteristic energy scale kBT, where kB is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature), cannot acquire small excitation energy. Indeed, in this case, they would have energy corresponding to already occupied states, which is prohibited by the Pauli principle. In turn, well above the Fermi level, where excitation of electrons is not constrained by the Pauli principle, the electron states are not populated, thus making their contribution to the response negligible.
Q&A: Electrically Conductive Coated Yarn for Wearable, Washable FabricsTBMG-3598202/01/2020
Professor Genevieve Dion, Director of Drexel University's (Philadelphia, PA) Center for Functional Fabrics, is collaborating with other experts to coat yarn with the highly conductive, two-dimensional material MXene. They demonstrated that the yarn could be used with standard textile manufacturing techniques to create wearable conductive fabric.
Q&A: A Shape-Morphing, Self-Healing Soft CompositeTBMG-3578801/01/2020
Carmel Majidi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, and his team has developed a material with a unique combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, with actuation and self-repair capabilities that are unlike any other soft composite.
Superconductivity in a Nickel Oxide MaterialTBMG-3568912/01/2019
Scientists have made the first nickel oxide material that shows clear signs of superconductivity — the ability to transmit electrical current with no loss. Also known as a nickelate, it's the first unconventional superconductor that is very similar to copper oxides, or cuprates, which indicated that superconductors could someday operate at near-room-temperature and revolutionize electronic devices, power transmission, and other technologies. Those similarities may show that nickelates could also superconduct at relatively high temperatures.
Molecular Engineering for Mechanically Resilient and Stretchable Electronic Polymers and Composites19AERP12_1012/01/2019
Establishing the design criteria for elasticity and ductility in conjugated polymers and composites by analysis of the structural determinants of the mechanical properties. Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Virginia The ability to predict the mechanical properties of organic semiconductors is of critical importance for roll-to-roll production and thermomechanical reliability of organic electronic devices. This research describes the use of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to predict the density, tensile modulus, Poisson ratio, and glass transition temperature for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and its blend with C60. In particular, it is shown that the resolution of the coarse-grained model has a strong effect on the predicted properties. It was found that a one-site model, in which each 3-hexylthiophene unit is represented by one coarse-grained bead, predicts significantly inaccurate values of density and tensile modulus. In contrast, a three-site model, with one
Molecular Engineering for Mechanically Resilient and Stretchable Electronic Polymers and CompositesTBMG-3566412/01/2019
The ability to predict the mechanical properties of organic semiconductors is of critical importance for roll-to-roll production and thermomechanical reliability of organic electronic devices. This research describes the use of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to predict the density, tensile modulus, Poisson ratio, and glass transition temperature for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and its blend with C60. In particular, it is shown that the resolution of the coarse-grained model has a strong effect on the predicted properties.
Method Manipulates Electrons and Transmits Information Quantum-MechanicallyTBMG-3571812/01/2019
A quantum computer operates on the principles of quantum mechanics, a unique set of rules that governs at the extremely small scale of atoms and subatomic particles. When dealing with particles at these scales, many of the rules that govern classical physics no longer apply and quantum effects emerge. A quantum computer is able to perform complex calculations, factor extremely large numbers, and simulate the behaviors of atoms and particles at levels that classical computers cannot.
Ultrathin Transistors for Faster Computer ChipsTBMG-3528310/01/2019
For decades, microchip transistors have become smaller, faster, and cheaper; however, miniaturization has reached a natural limit, as completely new problems arise when a length scale of only a few nanometers is approached.
Ultra-Clean Fabrication Platform for 2D TransistorsTBMG-3512909/01/2019
Recently discovered two-dimensional (2D) materials with superlative properties have the potential to advance semiconductors but creating 2D devices with both good electrical contacts and stable performance has proved challenging.
Fabricating Nanochips via Thermal LithographyTBMG-3472907/01/2019
A process for fabricating atom-thin processors can be used to produce at the nanoscale for smaller and faster semiconductors.
Breakthrough Could Enable Infrared Cameras for Electronics, Self-Driving CarsTBMG-3476707/01/2019
There's an entire world our eyes miss, hidden in the ranges of light wavelengths that human eyes can't see. But infrared cameras can pick up this light emitted as plants photosynthesize, as cool stars burn, and batteries get hot. They can see through smoke and fog and plastic.
Electrical Characterization of Crystalline UO2, THO2 and U0.71TH0.29O2TBMG-3452706/01/2019
Tracking and identifying radiation sources in the age of nuclear proliferation and well- resourced non-state actors is a national priority. Current neutron detection methods favor large detector volumes and long data collection times. Additionally, portable neutron detection methods have persistent problems with low signal-to-noise (small pulse height) and require large applied voltages.
Electron Beam Heating and Atomic Restructuring of Sapphire SurfacesTBMG-3439605/01/2019
NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a new way to reduce the high-temperature heating requirement of sapphire substrates in wafer production. The growth of high-quality and single-crystal epitaxy layers on sapphires requires uniform and high-temperature heating to accommodate restructuring of the sapphire surface to be aluminum-terminated. These requirements (uniform heating and re-structuring of sapphire substrates) are challenging for high-yield and high-quality production. This innovation offers a new way to reduce the high-temperature heating requirement of sapphire substrates and at the same time create the morphological restructure of sapphire surface required.
Chip Measures Quantities with Quantum PrecisionTBMG-3418204/01/2019
Many devices use light to probe the quantum states of atoms in a vapor confined in a small cell. Atoms can be highly sensitive to external conditions, and therefore make superb detectors. Devices based on light interactions with atomic vapors can measure quantities such as time, length, and magnetic fields, and have applications in navigation, communications, medicine, and other fields. Such devices generally must be assembled by hand.
High-Power Thermoelectric GeneratorTBMG-3391303/01/2019
Objects in our daily lives, such as speakers, refrigerators, and even cars, are becoming “smarter” day by day as they connect to the Internet and exchange data, creating the Internet of Things (IoT). Toward an IoT-based society, a miniaturized thermoelectric generator is anticipated to charge these objects, especially for those that are portable and wearable.
Nanoscale Pillars Act as Memory FoamTBMG-3393603/01/2019
A customizable nanomaterial was developed that combines metallic strength with a foam-like ability to compress and spring back. The material can store and release mechanical energy on the nanoscale, and fits into existing industrial semiconductor processes.
Piezoelectric Resonator with Two LayersTBMG-3320811/01/2018
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) filters have advantages in being able to reduce the size, weight, and power required when used as part of electronic systems such as radios; however, MEMS-type filters have limitations. For example, thickness MEMS-type filters (e.g., thickness-extensional mode piezoelectric resonators) are typically limited to a single operating frequency per substrate die. Also, lithographically determined operating frequency resonators cannot meet low-impedance specifications.
Generating Light-Induced Electrical Current in Atomically Thin NanomaterialsTBMG-3310810/01/2018
When hit with light, semiconductors (materials that have an electrical resistance in between that of metals and insulators) generate an electric current. Semiconductors that consist of one layer or a few layers of atoms — for example, graphene, which has a single layer of carbon atoms — are of particular interest for next-generation optoelectronics because of their sensitivity to light, which can controllably alter their electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility. But the amount of light that atomically thin semiconductors can absorb is limited, thus limiting the materials’ response to light.
Controlled Manufacture of Porous Silicon CarbideTBMG-3286109/01/2018
Extremely fine porous structures with tiny holes — resembling a kind of sponge at the nano level — can be generated in semiconductors. A method was developed for the controlled manufacture of porous silicon carbide (SiC), which has significant advantages over silicon. It possesses greater chemical resistance and can be used for biological applications, for example, without any additional coating required.
Electrical Contact to Molecules in Semiconductor StructuresTBMG-3283009/01/2018
To further develop semiconductor technology, the field of molecular electronics is seeking to manufacture circuit components from individual molecules instead of silicon. Because of their unique electronic properties, molecules are suited to applications that cannot be implemented using conventional silicon technology. This requires reliable and inexpensive methods for creating electrical contacts at the two ends of a molecule.
Fabrication Process Produces Nanostructures for Electronic DevicesTBMG-2903106/01/2018
Demands for improved computer processing power have led researchers to explore both new processes and other materials beyond silicon to produce electronic components. Semiconductor devices are created on wafers through a multi-step process to coat, remove, or pattern conductive materials. Traditional processes are wet etch, in which a sample with blocked aspects is immersed in an acid bath to remove substances, and reactive ion etching, in which ions bombard exposed surfaces on the wafer to change its chemical properties and remove materials in those exposed regions. Both have been used to develop the intricate electronic patterns on circuits, and use silicon as a foundation for this type of patterning.
High Performance Motor and Inverter System for a Newly Developed Electric Vehicle2018-01-046104/03/2018
This paper describes a newly developed motor and inverter system with maximum torque of 320 Nm and maximum power of 110 kW for a 2018 model year EV. The system achieves this performance with no increase in size from the previous 2013 model year system with maximum torque of 254 Nm and maximum power of 80 kW. The specific features of the new system described in this paper are summarized below. A new inverter power module that adopts a direct cooling structure produces higher current density than the previous model. The designs of components experiencing structural and electrical variation that affects heat generation by the power semiconductors were confirmed. Furthermore, the motor temperature is estimated for thermal protection. These features allow for control logic that can optimally manage the temperatures of the power semiconductors and the motor to facilitate the high torque performance of the system. The motor voltage management has also been optimized in order to reduce the
Namiki, Kazushige, Murota, Kohei, Shoji, Mitsuhiro
Traversing the ‘Autonomous Trust Gap’18AUTP08_0301/01/2018
During a recent conference hosted by semiconductor maker NXP in Silicon Valley, I had the honor of moderating a panel titled, “The Autonomous Trust Gap.” The timing was fortuitous in the wake of several recent road incidents involving partially automated vehicles that had been developed by companies based in the region. While the panel didn't include any of the incumbent automakers, it did feature executives from EV startup Byton, software companies Renovo and Cloudera, and chipmakers NXP and Nvidia. The entry of the SilV tech community into the automated driving space over the past few years has been a somewhat worrying development. Not so much because of what they could do to the incumbent industry-after all, every business sector must eventually evolve or die. My personal concerns have been more related to the tech mindset that has developed over the past two decades: Move fast and break things-and don't be too concerned that you're shipping minimally viable products.
Abuelsamid, Sam
Ultrathin Semiconductor Materials “Rust” to Insulate CircuitryTBMG-2798212/01/2017
Silicon has several qualities that have led it to become the bedrock of electronics. One is that it features a very good “native” insulator — silicon dioxide, or silicon rust. Exposing silicon to oxygen during manufacturing gives chip makers a way to isolate their circuitry. Other semiconductors do not “rust” into good insulators when exposed to oxygen, so they must be layered with additional insulators — a step that introduces engineering challenges. Two new ultrathin materials share that trait, making them promising materials for electronics of the future.
Flexible, Printable Electronics for Sensor ArraysTBMG-2778911/01/2017
Printable electronics — flexible circuitry that is deposited on some type of plastic substrate — has been a major area of research for decades. But the ability to print the substrate itself greatly increases the range of devices the technique can yield.
High-Resolution, Coherent, Dual-Tip Scanning Probe MicroscopeTBMG-2768910/01/2017
The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has become one of the most powerful tools used in studying the surface structure of electrically conducting solid-state materials at an atomic resolution. Since its conception, the STM has had the greatest impact in the field of modern surface science because of its superior capability of characterizing and resolving the surface atomic structures and defects. Surface features such as atomic point defects, dislocations, and grain boundary identification can routinely be studied using a STM. Furthermore, STMs also allow the characterization of step structures at the atomic level during the processes of surface preparation and growth of semiconductors, such as epitaxial growth on semiconductor structures.
Products of Tomorrow: July 2017TBMG-2722107/01/2017
This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.
Power Module Design Verification for xEV Application Under Extreme Conditions2017-01-124603/28/2017
Power modules play a key role in traction inverters for vehicle electrification applications. The harsh automotive operating environment is a big challenge for power modules. The paper highlights the challenges for power modules usage in electrified vehicles (xEVs), and proposes a design verification procedure for such application in order to ensure the reliable operation under all conditions. First, power modules operate in all climate zones and are exposed to a wide ambient temperature range underhood from -40°C to 105°C. A typical automotive power module should therefore withstand a junction temperature from -40°C to up to 175°C without exceeding its safe operating area (SOA), e.g. avalanche breakdown voltage, maximum current, and thermal limit. Second, an inductive induced high voltage spike could be generated during the power semiconductor fast switching at high voltage and high current conditions. The voltage clamping capability is usually required to prevent power semiconductor
Xu, Fan, Chen, Lihua, Yang, Shuitao, Zhou, Yan, Alam, Mohammed Khorshed
Energy Consumption of Passenger Compartment Auxiliary Cooling System Based on Peltier Effect2017-01-015503/28/2017
The closed cabin temperature is anticipated to be cooled down when it is a bit hot inside the driving car. The traditional air-condition lowers the cabin temperature by frequently switching the status of the compressor, which increases the engine’s parasitic power and shortens the compressor’s service-life. The semiconductor auxiliary cooling system with the properties of no moving parts, high control precision and quick response has the potential to assist the on-board air-condition in modulating the cabin temperature with relative small ranges. Little temperature differences between the cabin and the outside environment means that the system energy consumption to ensure the occupant comfort is relatively low and the inefficiency could be made up by the renewable energy source. This research focuses on the influence of the vehicle speed and the ambient temperature over the cooling energy consumption considering occupant heat dissipation in order to maximize the system energy
Xu, Yongbing, Tan, Gangfeng, Guo, Xuexun, Ping, Xianyao
Automotive Engineering: March 201717AUTP0303/02/2017
Thought leadership at WCX17 Lucid Motors' David Moseley: EV or ICE, "It is all physics" New eye on the road One of the industry's hottest tech suppliers is blazing the autonomy trail by crowd-sourcing safe routes and using AI to learn to negotiate the road. Mobileye's co-founder and CTO explains. Hard, slick and ready to roll A tough, self-renewing catalyst coating developed at Argonne National Laboratory provides unprecedented friction and wear protection for vehicle powertrains, the inventors claim. Sensor ICs, semiconductors and safety To achieve ISO 26262 compliance, engineering practices must be taken to a higher level. The following insights may prove valuable for getting there. New VCR targets 40% BTE Variable-compression ratio with VVA from France's MCE-5. Editorial: Nation of Innovation SAE Standards News Sharpening the focus on OBD-II security Supplier Eye Smaller suppliers facing global challenges Chicago auto show: All-new 2018 Ford Expedition gets aluminum body, 10-speed
Glass Fibers with Potential Far Beyond Transmitting LightTBMG-2622501/01/2017
Glass fibers do everything from connecting us to the Internet to enabling keyhole surgery by delivering light through an endoscope. But as versatile as today’s fiber optics are, scientists around the world have been working to expand their capabilities by adding semiconductor core materials to the glass fibers.
X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Characterization Methods for Sigma=3 Twin Defects in Cubic Semiconductor (100) WafersTBMG-2597212/01/2016
NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a method of using x-ray diffraction (XRD) to detect defects in cubic semiconductor (100) wafers. The technology allows non-destructive evaluation of wafer quality in a simple, fast, inexpensive process that can be easily incorporated into an existing fab line. The invention adds value throughout the semiconductor industry, but is especially relevant in high-end, high-speed electronics where wafer quality has a more significant effect on yields.
Items per page:
1 – 50 of 359