MRI-R2 : Acquisition for In Vacuo Characterization and Pb-VI MBE System Upgrades

MRI-R2：真空表征和 Pb-VI MBE 系统升级的采集

• 批准号: 0959787
• 负责人: James Barnes
• 金额: $ 23.41万
• 依托单位: Oklahoma State University Multispectral Laboratories
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-04-15 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0959787&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; R2; Acquisition; Vacuo; Characterization

0959787BarnesOklahoma State U. Multispectral LaboratoriesTechnical Summary: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Lead based IV-VI semiconductor alloys are unique as a multifunctional material due to its unique and tunable optical, electronic, magnetic and thermoelectric properties. Pb-VI material development has been overshadowed by II-VI (HgCdTe) and III-V (InSb) for infrared (IR) sensors/detectors/imagers since the late 1970s. With the current use of two dimensional imaging focal plane arrays the IV-VI semiconductors are again the optimal choice for IR devices. They are tolerant of structural and point defects that typically limit yields of II-VI and III-V semiconductor materials. Also, there is currently considerable drive to develop the Pb-VI materials for high efficiency thermoelectric energy harvesting applications. Despite these major technical drivers in sensors and energy harvesting, research in advancing the understanding and quality of the Pb-VI material system is minimal at best. In this program we are pursuing the fundamental development of the materials by a cooperative effort between the University Multispectral Laboratory, Oklahoma State University and Amethyst Research Inc. Integration of in vacuo characterization equipment, including RHEED, RGA, XPS and AES, allows for immediate feedback to growth processes and semiconductor properties unhindered by the formation of oxides and contaminants that occurs when these surfaces are removed from vacuum. Basic research enabled by this acquisition includes understanding the band alignment between ternary Pb-VI alloys (to be immediately fed into device modeling efforts), understanding growth modes for Pb-VIs on II-VI/Si composite substrates and feedback during growth of semiconductor heterostructures for defect engineering/nanostructuring. These projects will lead to improved device design and subsequently enhanced energy harvesting and sensor performance. This effort places an emphasis on incorporation of graduate and undergraduate student research experiences, which in collaboration with small business also opens the door to cross-disciplinary cooperation in the academic environment as physicists, material scientists and electrical engineers understand, grow and design advanced device structures in the selected material system.Non-Technical Summary:This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). To enhance the understanding of basic material properties it is important to investigate the system in a pristine environment. By acquiring a number of specialized analysis tools designed to work in such an environment, basic research of Pb-salt based materials will be performed as part of a collaborative effort between the University Multispectral Laboratory, Oklahoma State University and Amethyst Research Inc. Investigation of Pb-salt based semiconductors addresses areas of societal concern in the security, health, energy and environmental sectors. These materials are far more tolerant of material issues that limit yields in other semiconductor systems. The research that will be performed provides the enabling technology to manufacture low-cost, high performance infrared imaging arrays, allowing advanced sensing to penetrate previously untapped markets such as non-military surveillance, infrared radiography for tumor and other medical imaging, and environmental monitoring. This material system is also a prime candidate for solid-state thermoelectric power devices that have the potential for significant economic and improved environmental impact to society by allowing harvesting of waste heat through direct conversion to electricity. The project will involve the training of undergraduate and graduate students in physics, electrical engineering and materials science in a vital technology, and also simultaneously involve and expose these students to high technology industry.

0959787巴尼苏达俄克拉荷马州立大学多光谱实验室技术概述：该奖项是根据《2009年美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助的。铅基IV-VI半导体合金因其独特的、可调的光学、电学、磁学和热电性能而成为一种独特的多功能材料。自1970年代末以来，用于红外(IR)传感器/探测器/成像仪的II-VI(HgCdTe)和III-V(InSb)材料使PB-VI材料的发展黯然失色。随着目前二维成像焦平面阵列的使用，IV-VI半导体再次成为红外设备的最佳选择。它们可以容忍结构缺陷和点缺陷，这些缺陷通常会限制II-VI和III-V半导体材料的产量。此外，目前有相当大的动力开发用于高效热电能量收集应用的铅-VI材料。尽管在传感器和能量收集方面有这些主要的技术驱动因素，但在促进对铅-VI材料系统的理解和质量方面的研究充其量也是微不足道的。在这个项目中，我们通过大学多光谱实验室、俄克拉荷马州立大学和紫晶研究公司之间的合作来追求材料的根本开发。集成了In Vacuo表征设备，包括RHEED、RGA、XPS和AES，允许立即反馈到生长过程和半导体性能，而不受这些表面从真空中移除时形成的氧化物和污染物的阻碍。此次收购带来的基础研究包括了解三元铅-VI合金之间的能带对齐(立即用于器件建模工作)，了解II-VI/Si复合衬底上铅-Vis的生长模式，以及用于缺陷工程/纳米结构的半导体异质结生长过程中的反馈。这些项目将改进设备设计，并随后增强能量收集和传感器性能。这项工作强调结合研究生和本科生的研究经验，这与小企业合作，也为学术环境中的跨学科合作打开了大门，因为物理学家、材料科学家和电气工程师了解、生长和设计选定材料系统中的先进器件结构。非技术总结：该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公共法律111-5)资助。为了加强对基本材料性质的理解，在原始环境中研究该系统是很重要的。通过获得一些专为在这种环境中工作而设计的专门分析工具，基于铅盐的材料的基础研究将作为大学多光谱实验室、俄克拉荷马州立大学和紫晶研究公司合作努力的一部分进行。对基于铅盐的半导体的调查涉及安全、健康、能源和环境部门的社会关切领域。这些材料对限制其他半导体系统产量的材料问题的容忍度要高得多。即将进行的研究将提供制造低成本、高性能红外成像阵列的使能技术，使先进的传感技术能够渗透到以前未开发的市场，如非军事监视、肿瘤和其他医学成像的红外照相以及环境监测。这种材料系统也是固态热电设备的主要候选者，通过将废热直接转化为电能，固态热电设备有可能对社会产生重大的经济和改善环境影响。该项目将包括对物理、电气工程和材料科学的本科生和研究生进行关键技术方面的培训，同时还将让这些学生参与并接触高科技行业。