Nanotechnology: Silicon Nanoparticle Engineering for Novel Memory and Logic Applications

9871850 Atwater这个项目的目标是开发合成、处理、操作和表征工具，以实现和改进新型的、新兴的硅纳米颗粒存储器和逻辑器件。这些器件利用了粒子合成、操作、界面钝化以及有序、尺寸分类的钝化硅纳米颗粒阵列的电学和光学表征的常用方法，这些阵列集成到更大的器件结构中。本项目要解决的器件结构包括：基于场效应晶体管的纳米粒子浮栅上的离散电荷存储的非易失性存储器，以及基于硅纳米粒子的元胞自动机线/逻辑门的实现，其中信息通过细胞-细胞静电相互作用而不是电流传播。在这个程序中开发的纳米粒子工程和组装方法可能使能够在室温下工作的元胞自动机逻辑门首次实现。纳米粒子的合成和加工的关键是纳米粒子的尺寸、形状、介电钝化厚度和化学计量的工程化以及纳米粒子位置的控制。利用扫描探针显微镜的力操纵实现了模型器件结构的位置控制。另一项努力旨在利用流体和胶体力来制造有序的线性和平面阵列。在单粒子水平上的电荷状态和形态的表征是使用导电尖端原子力显微镜进行的。该项目涉及具有高技术相关性的科学和工程主题领域的基础研究问题。这项研究将为电子器件的重要方面提供基础层面的新知识。从研究中获得的基本知识和理解有望通过为设计和生产改进的材料和材料组合提供基本的理解和基础，从而有助于提高先进设备的性能。该计划的一个重要特点是通过培养学生在一个基础和技术上重要的领域的研究和教育的整合。这项研究资助是在纳米技术计划（NSF 98-20）下进行的，由工程理事会、计算机和信息科学与工程理事会以及数学和物理科学理事会共同资助。该研究团队是由加州理工学院应用物理和化学工程学院以及贝尔实验室/朗讯技术公司和喷气推进实验室的技术人员组成的大学/工业/政府实验室合作。

9871850 Atwater This objectives of this project are to develop the synthesis, processing, manipulation and characterization tools to enable and improve novel, emerging silicon nanoparticle memory and logic devices. These devices exploit common approaches for particle synthesis, manipulation, interface passivation and electrical and optical characterization of ordered, passivated arrays of size-classified silicon nanoparticles which are integrated into larger device structures. Device structures to be addressed in this project include: a nonvolatile memory based on discrete charge storage on the nanoparticle floating gate of a field-effect transistor, and a silicon nanoparticle-based implementation for a cellular automata wire/logic gate, in which information is propagated by cell-cell electrostatic interactions rather than by current flow. The nanoparticle engineering and assembly methods developed in this program may enable the first realization of a cellular automata logic gate capable of room temperature operation. Key aspects of the synthesis and processing are engineering of nanoparticle size, shape, dielectric passivation thickness and stoichiometry, and control of nanoparticle position. Control of position is achieved in model device structures using force manipulation by a scanning probe microscope. Another effort is aimed at utilizing fluid and colloidal forces to fabricate ordered linear and planar arrays. Characterization of charge state and morphology at the single particle level is performed using conducting tip atomic force microscopy. %%% The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of science and engineering having high technological relevance. The research will contribute new knowledge at a fundamental level to important aspects of electronic devices. The basic knowledge and understanding gained from the research is expected to contribute to improving the performance of advanced devices by providing a fundamental understanding and a basis for designing and producing improved materials, and materials combinations. An important feature of the program is the integration of research and education through the training of students in a fundamentally and technologically significant area. This research grant is made under the Nanotechnology Initiative (NSF 98-20), and is co-funded by the Directorate for Engineering, the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, and the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The research team is a university/industry/government lab collaboration between Applied Physics and Chemical Engineering faculty at the California Institute of Technology, and technical staff at Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.