Collaborative Research: Ultra-high Performance Carbon Nanotube "Parallel Nanotube Architectures" (PNAs) for On-chip Gigascale Local and Global Interconnects

本研究的目的是解决未来微处理器中芯片互连的某些关键问题，这些问题可能会在不到十年的时间内阻碍微电子工业的发展。可行的革命性的替代方案，以克服这些障碍，使用碳纳米管架构提出。该方法是开发高度组织化的超高性能碳纳米管架构，这些架构可能取代并超越现有技术，用于未来极窄（低于22纳米）的互连。虽然工业技术路线图已经设想碳纳米管架构将在几个方面全面超越目前的互连技术，但在其开发和集成方面几乎没有进展。多学科的智力刺激的概念和由此产生的发明的研究人员的协同作用，该计划将弥合在微处理器行业的关键技术差距。在这项研究计划中开发的预期革命性互连结构预计将达到或超过技术路线图预测，并可能促进微处理器行业的持续发展。 该计划最富有成效的影响将是教育和培训一批年轻的研究人员（从高中到研究生），他们具有解决纳米/微电子行业尖端技术问题所需的适当技能。高级课程材料，短期研究模块和签名教育计划的开发，如纳米工业材料在先进技术和教育中的应用（ANIMATE）将刺激学生在早期阶段进行高级研究和教育，这将在扭转缺乏来自不同背景的充分代表性方面发挥关键作用。

The objective of this research is to address and resolve certain critical problems of on-chip interconnects in future microprocessors that threaten to impede the progress of the microelectronics industry in less than a decade. Feasible revolutionary alternatives to overcome some of those impediments using carbon nanotube architectures are proposed. The approach is to develop highly organized ultra-high performance carbon nanotube architectures that can potentially replace and outperform existing technologies for extremely narrow (below 22 nanometers) future interconnects. Although industrial technology roadmaps have envisaged that carbon nanotube architectures will comprehensively outperform present interconnect technologies in several ways, there has been little progress in their development and integration. A synergy of multidisciplinary intellectually stimulating concepts and their resulting inventions by the investigators, this program will bridge a crucial technological gap in the microprocessor industry. The anticipated revolutionary interconnect structures developed in this research program are expected to meet or exceed technology roadmap projections and could facilitate the continuing progress of microprocessor industries. The most fruitful impact of this program will be in educating and training a young pool of researchers (from high-school to graduate students) with appropriate skill sets needed for tackling cutting-edge technological issues in nano/microelectronics industries. The development of advanced course materials, short-term research modules and signature educational programs such as Application of Nanoscale Industrial Materials for Advanced Technology and Education (ANIMATE) will stimulate students towards advanced research and education at an early stage, which will play a key role in reversing the lack of adequate representation from diverse backgrounds.