NIRT: Semiconductor Nanowire-Based Electronics and Optoelectronics

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0506902YuAs engineered nanoscale building blocks for more complex structures and devices, semiconductornanowires are particularly intriguing due to the ability to form wires from a variety of materials withcontrol over basic electronic properties and the beginnings of control over wire positioning and assembly.However, a broad range of issues pertaining to synthesis of semiconductor nanowire heterostructures,elucidation of nanoscale structure and electronic properties, processing into devices including contactsand controlled nanowire placement, and the optimal exploitation of unique electronic, transport, andoptical behavior in nanowires for various device applications remain to be explored.The PI proposes a comprehensive investigation of the fundamental properties of semiconductornanowires and their application in electronic and optoelectronic devices, focusing on the following deviceapplications: (1) nanowire-based transistor structures that will offer either (a) extremely low-power, highspeed operation for future logic and memory applications or (b) operation at extremely high frequencies and power densities for microwave and mm-wave circuit applications; and (2) nanowire photodiodes incorporated into structures for (a) generation of terahertz radiation, or (b) multispectral imaging based on integration of different nanowire structures on a single chip. All represent potentially major breakthroughs in device performance or functionality, while sharing common fundamental issues inmaterials synthesis, characterization, and processing. The proposed team encompasses experts inmaterials synthesis, advanced characterization, materials processing, and electronic and optoelectronicdevices and systems, thereby ensuring that materials and processing studies address the issues mostrelevant to the device and system applications, and that device designs exploit the full range ofpossibilities provided by advanced materials synthesis and processing.Intellectual Merit: Fundamental issues in the physics of nanoscale systems and the integration ofnanostructures into realistic, high-performance devices will be addressed by a highly accomplished,multidisciplinary team with an established, extensive record of successful collaboration. Research topicsof interest will include synthesis of novel semiconductor nanowire heterostructures; nanoscale electronicstructure and carrier transport behavior in nanowires; metallurgical, processing, and quantumconductanceissues in contact formation; design of advanced nanowire-based transistor structures forcomputation and communications; and nanowire photodiodes for terahertz signal generation andmultispectral imaging. A strong educational component is envisioned, entailing the development of newgraduate course sequences aimed at a multidisciplinary student audience, a freshman seminar series,mentoring of undergraduate students, and interaction with secondary school students via the UCSDPreuss School, a Charter School serving high-ability but socioeconomically disadvantaged secondaryschool students in the San Diego Unified School District.Broader Impact: The proposed program will yield new capabilities and insights in nanostructuresynthesis, the physics of nanoscale structures, processing and assembly of nanostructures, and theirapplicability in realistic devices and systems that will have relevance not only for the device applicationstargeted here, but for research on semiconductor nanowires specifically, and solid-state nanostructuresmore generally. The potential areas of impact include future logic and memory systems, high-speedcircuits for communications, and terahertz to infrared/visible imaging. Graduate students andpostdoctoral researchers will be educated in a vertically integrated, multidisciplinary setting, with majornew experimental facilities associated with Cal(IT)2 at UCSD providing new capability as well as aunifying umbrella for this and related activities. The development of graduate-level course sequenceswill further facilitate training of students in important emerging areas of science and technology, whilethe proposed courses and mentoring/outreach programs at the undergraduate and secondary school levelswill help both to educate nontechnical students about scientific and technological issues and to encouragestudents to pursue advanced education and careers in science and engineering.