SemiSynBio-III: Novel Memory Devices for High-Density Data Storage and In-Memory Computing Based on Integrated Synthetic DNA-Semiconductors

非易失性存储器（NVM）设备用于在智能手机、平板电脑、计算机、物联网硬件、无线路由器和通信系统以及其他电子设备中存储数据。此外，nvm还应用于计算硬件，以加速人工智能和机器学习算法。然而，目前可用的存储设备有局限性，存储大量数据的新技术可以超过数据存储密度一千倍或更多，需要研究。在合成dna中存储数据是一种很有前途的途径，因为它是已知密度最大的存储介质，编码的信息可以在有利的环境中永久保存。然而，纯粹的dna存储是基于化学性质的，这给它带来了一系列挑战，如高成本、读取错误以及与互补金属氧化物半导体（CMOS）集成电路（ic）不兼容。dna存储的瓶颈是它的效率，因为它比硅存储芯片的时间尺度慢数百万倍。考虑到典型DNA分子记忆的编码/解码过程耗时费力，以及基于聚合的序列识别编码机制所导致的易挥发性，简单地使用DNA作为信息编码的媒介在技术上仍然是低效的。如果一种合适的介质可以协同设计来控制微妙的分子间相互作用以产生多种状态，并且基于这种生物材料的器件可以与CMOS集成电路集成，那么限制DNA用于数据存储的问题可以得到解决。有机金属卤化物钙钛矿（OHP）半导体为支持DNA提供了一种很有前途的宿主材料，因为它的工艺兼容性导致了新型OHP-DNA-生物材料高密度存储阵列的发展。这项研究将解决探索整合dna -半导体生物分子复合物在传统半导体平台上进行高密度数据存储的新概念的重大挑战。该项目将通过在辛辛那提大学（UC）和宾夕法尼亚州立大学（PSU）开设一门新课程，为来自不同背景的研究生和本科生提供多学科培训的重要机会，以推进基于生物分子复合物的下一代计算，而不仅仅是传统半导体。现有的大学项目，如G-FEST和NERDS，将被用来支持加州大学和宾夕法尼亚州立大学的高中和初中的推广工作。本课题旨在开发基于混合OHP和合成dna生物材料的高密度存储器件，并展示其在cmos后端集成光电系统中数据存储和内存计算（IMC）的应用。在混合OHP-DNA存储装置中，通过修改碱基对、序列、长度、旋转和结晶度等参数来调整DNA的性质，为DNA的电学和光学性质提供了巨大的机会。该项目的具体目标包括：1。建模，设计和合成与OHP半导体集成的特定DNA序列；2. OHP-DNA生物材料的开发与表征3. 基于ohp - dna的高密度存储器件的开发及其与ohp光电系统和CMOS线后端（BEOL）集成。辛辛那提大学（UC）和宾夕法尼亚州立大学（PSU）之间的合作团队拥有成功完成拟议目标所需的专业知识和最先进的资源。成功完成将导致(i)对合成DNA和OHP之间通信的基本理解，以及将OHP与DNA工程相结合以实现高密度多态nvm的定制方法，（ii）合成能够存储数据的OHP-DNA生物材料的路线，（iii）集成后端CMOS的OHP-DNA存储器件的集成电路以及计算和数据存储方法。这些结果将对为未来数据存储需求提供新的基于dna的技术产生变革性影响。该项目由生物科学理事会（BIO）的分子和细胞生物科学部（MCB）、计算机和信息科学与工程理事会（CISE）的计算和通信基础部（CCF）、工程理事会（ENG）的电气、通信和网络系统部（ECCS）以及数学和物理科学理事会（MPS）的材料研究部（DMR）共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices are used to store data in smartphones, tablets, computers, hardware for Internet of Things, wireless routers and communication systems, and other electronic devices. In addition, NVMs also have applications in computing hardware to accelerate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms. However, currently available memory devices have limitations and novel techniques for storing tremendous amount of data that can surpass the density of data storage by a thousand-fold or more needs investigation. Storing data in synthetic-DNA is a promising route as it is the densest known storage medium with the information encoded lasting forever in a conducive environment. However, purely DNA-storage is based on a chemical nature that imposes its own set of challenges such as high-cost, read error, and incompatibility with Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits (ICs). The bottleneck with DNA-storage is its efficiency, as it is million times slower than the timescales in a silicon memory chip. Considering the time- & effort-consuming coding/decoding process for typical DNA molecular memory, as well as its volatile nature due to polymerization-based sequencing-identified coding mechanism, simply using DNA as a medium for information coding remains technically inefficient. The issues limiting DNA usage for data storage can be addressed if an appropriate medium to host synthetic-DNA can be synergistically designed to control subtle inter-molecular interaction to generate multiple states and the devices based on this biomaterial can be integrated with CMOS ICs. Organometallic halide perovskite (OHP) semiconductors provide a promising host material to support DNA due to process compatibility leading to the development of novel OHP-DNA-biomaterials based high-density memory arrays. This research will address grand-challenges of exploring novel concepts of integrating DNA-Semiconductor biomolecular complexes for high-density data storage on traditional semiconductor platforms. The project will provide significant opportunities for multi-disciplinary training of graduate and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds by developing a new course to be offered at University of Cincinnati (UC) and Penn State University (PSU) for advancing the next generation of computing based on biomolecular complexes beyond just traditional semiconductors. Existing University programs like G-FEST and NERDS will be leveraged to support high-school and middle school outreach efforts at UC and PSU. The objective of this proposal is to develop high-density memory devices based on hybrid OHP and synthetic-DNA biomaterials and demonstrate its application for data-storage and In-Memory Computing (IMC) in integrated optoelectronic systems with CMOS-back-end. DNA provides tremendous opportunities to tune its properties by modifying the parameters such as base-pairs, sequence, length, rotation, and crystallinity for electrical and optical properties in a hybrid OHP-DNA memory device. Specific aims of the project include: 1. Modeling, design, and synthesis of specific DNA sequences for integration with OHP semiconductor; 2. Development of OHP-DNA biomaterials and characterization; 3. Development of OHP-DNA-based high-density memory devices and integration with OHP-optoelectronic systems and CMOS Back-End of Line (BEOL). Collaborative team between the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Penn State University (PSU) has expertise and state of the art resources necessary to successfully complete the proposed aims. A successful completion will lead to (i) fundamental understanding of communications between synthetic-DNA and OHP and methods for tailoring OHP in conjunction with DNA engineering to achieve high-density multi-state NVMs, (ii) routes to synthesize OHP-DNA biomaterials capable of data storage, (iii) ICs with integrated OHP-DNA memory devices with CMOS in back-end and approaches for computing and data-storage. These results will have transformative impacts on providing novel DNA-based technologies for future data storage needs.This project has been jointly funded by Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) in the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), and the Division of Materials Research (DMR) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.