Interfacing CMOS and Self-Assembled Nanostructures

本研究的目的是将量子点元胞自动机（QCA）纳米电子学与传统电子学相结合。随着CMOS的扩展接近尾声，寻找新的器件来克服功率密度的问题势在必行。量子点细胞自动机是一个很有前途的新范例，然而，硅晶体管有很多优点，必须制造纳米电子学来与CMOS接口。该方法由圣母大学和弗吉尼亚大学的团队合作，将传统的放大和芯片上的接口电路与使用SiGe量子点分子引导自组装的纳米电子电路集成在一起。该项目的智力价值在于其对纳米电子学和CMOS之间很少被探索的界面的研究。尽管功耗将限制CMOS在高性能电路中的应用，但它将在未来的电路块中得到广泛应用。该项目将通过将GeSi QCA细胞的生长整合到CMOS制造序列中来推动该领域的发展。更广泛的影响：拟议的项目将对技术和教育产生更广泛的影响。纳米电子学和CMOS电路的结合将使电子工业超越CMOS。该项目将通过研究、学习和指导他人来塑造研究生和本科生的经历。一个重要的组成部分是通过课堂活动和实地考察，将学生带到圣母大学实验室，针对中学生开展拓展计划。中学生是一个很好的拓展群体，因为他们还在对自己感兴趣的领域做出选择。

The objective of this research is to interface Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) nanoelectronics and conventional electronics. As scaling of CMOS nears its end it is imperative to find new devices to overcome the problem of power density. Quantum-dot cellular automata is a promising new paradigm, however, silicon transistors have so many advantages that nanoelectronics must be made to interface to CMOS. The approach, a collaboration of groups at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Virginia, is to integrate conventional amplification and interface circuitry on-chip with nanoelectronic circuits grown using guided self-assembly of SiGe quantum dot molecules. The intellectual merit of the project is in its investigation of the little-explored interface of nanoelectronics and CMOS. Although power dissipation will limit CMOS in high-performance circuits, it will be used in circuit blocks far into the future. This project will move the field forward by integrating the growth of GeSi QCA cells into the CMOS fabrication sequence. Broader Impact: The proposed project will have a broader impact in both technology and education. Interfacing nanoelectronics and CMOS circuitry should enable the electronics industry to move beyond CMOS. The project will shape the experience of the graduate and undergraduate students through research, study, and mentoring others. An important component is an outreach program targeting middle school students through classroom activities, and field trips to bring students to the Notre Dame labs. Middle school aged children are an excellent group for outreach since they are still making choices about their areas of interests.