SHF: SMALL: Energy Efficient Self-Healing Design of Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistors

薄膜晶体管(TFT)是宏电子电路中最重要的元件之一，广泛应用于显示器、大面积传感器、射频识别(RFID)标签和天线等各种柔性电子应用中。在这种背景下，碳纳米管薄膜晶体管(CN-TFT)在提高性能和扩大许多柔性电子应用的工作范围方面具有很好的前景。然而，在CN-TFT可用于商业灵活电子用途之前，需要解决一些关键问题。本研究的目标是：(A)分析不同的CN-TFT衬底涂层和自加热对CN-TFT性能和可靠性的影响；以及(B)设计和分析节能和自愈的CN-TFT电路，并建立/控制晶体管的统计和形态变化对电路级性能的影响。为了实现这一分析，将开发一个由碳纳米管(CNT)结的原子模型、CN-TFT的电热输运模型和电路模型组成的多尺度建模框架。多尺度框架将促进节能、高性能和可靠的CN-TFT电路的设计，并为显著降低功耗、热点温度和性能变化制定指导方针。开发用于多尺度电和热传输的高效数值方法将推动电子设备的高效计算和分析领域的发展。该项目将开发关于电子设备的功耗、能量传输和散热以及节能电路设计的教学模块，这将加强本科生和研究生的课程。该计划准备的小型演示和实践课程将激励K-12学生接受高等教育。

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) are one of the most important components of macro-electronic circuits used in various flexible electronic applications such as displays, large area sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and antennas. In this context, Carbon Nanotube Thin-Film Transistors (CN-TFTs) are very promising for enhancing performance and expanding the range of operation of many flexible-electronic applications due to several reasons. However, some critical issues need to be addressed before CN-TFTs can be made available for commercial flexible electronic use. The objectives of this research are to: (a) analyze the effects of different coatings of CN-TFT substrates and self-heating on CN-TFT performance and reliability; and (b) design and analyze energy efficient and self-healing CN-TFT circuits and establish/control the effects of statistical and morphological variability of transistors on circuit-level performance. A multi-scale modeling framework consisting of an atomistic model for Carbon Nanotube (CNT) junctions, electro-thermal transport model for CN-TFTs, and circuit models will be developed to enable this analysis. The multi-scale framework will facilitate the design of energy efficient, high performance, and reliable CN-TFT circuits and establish guidelines for significant decrease in the power consumption, hot spot temperature, and performance variations. Efficient numerical methods developed for multi-scale electrical and thermal transport will boost the field of efficient computing and analysis of electronic devices. This program will develop education modules on power consumption, energy transport and heat dissipation in electronic devices and energy-efficient circuit design, which will enhance the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Small demonstrations and hands-on sessions prepared by this program will motivate K-12 students for higher education.