NER: Controlled Synthesis of Hierarchical One-Dimensional Heterostructures for Nanodevice Applications

随着电子器件小型化趋势的持续，目前由金属氧化物半导体结和金属互连组成的硅技术将面临泄漏电流大、膜电阻增加和原子电迁移等重大缺陷。在这方面，一维纳米材料，如碳纳米管和纳米线，作为目前硅基器件的纳米级替代品提供了优势。本NER项目的目标是制造和测试基于碳纳米管和纳米线分层设计的一维异质结构。具体目标是：(a)使用阳极氧化铝纳米通道作为模板，然后使用化学气相沉积和电沉积技术，在各种配置中创建精确控制的（直径，长度和几何形状）纳米管/纳米线异质结构，(b)表征和研究其结构，结和传输特性，以及(c)对纳米管/纳米线异质结构的结构和电子特性进行计算研究。该研究的智力价值在于首次详细研究将尝试创建和表征基于碳纳米管和纳米线的新型异质结构和分层分子尺度结。该研究将展示对裁剪传输特性的控制以及基于一维纳米材料的纳米器件的构建。这些异质结构材料将为基础研究和构建真正的纳米级互连和结构开辟新的机会。具体来说，这些纳米管-纳米线混合结构将使先进的纳米电子学应用于逻辑器件、多终端纳米电子器件、开关、集成二极管电路和多功能纳米系统。这项研究强调本科生和研究生的参与、教育和培训，他们都将受益于在三所参与的大学接触纳米科学和纳米技术研究。

As the trend towards smaller electronic devices continues, current silicon technology consisting of metal-oxide semiconductor junctions and metal interconnect will face significant deficiencies such as a large leakage current, increase in film resistance and electromigration of atoms. In this regard, one-dimensional nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube and nanowire offer advantage as nanoscale alternatives to current silicon-based devices. The goal of this NER project is to fabricate and test hierarchically designed one-dimensional heterostructures based on carbon nanotubes and nanowires. The specific goals are to: (a) create precisely controlled (diameter, length, and geometry) nanotube/nanowire heterostructures in various configurations using anodize aluminum oxide nanochannels as templates followed by chemical vapor deposition and electrodeposition techniques, (b) characterize and study their structures, junctions, and transport property, and (c) perform computational investigations of structural and electronic properties of nanotube/nanowire heterostructures. The intellectual merit of the research lies in the first detailed study that will attempt to create and characterize novel heterostructured and hierarchical molecular scale junctions based on carbon nanotubes with nanowires. The research will demonstrate control over tailoring transport properties and building of one-dimensional nanomaterial based nanodevices. These heterostructured materials will open up new opportunities for both fundamental research and building of true nanoscale interconnection and architecture. Specifically, these nanotube-nanowire hybrid structures will enable advanced nanoelectronics for logic devices, multi-terminal nanoelectronic devices, switches, integrated diode circuits, and multifunctional nanosystems. The research emphasizes the participation, education, and training of undergraduates, and graduate students who will all benefit from exposure to nanoscience and nanotechnology research in three participating universities.