Collaborative Research: Nanoscopic Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Elements and Arrays

本研究的目的是定性地推进我们对EXX现象的理解和发展，其中E =非凡，XX =电导（EEC）和光导（EOC）等。方法是a)制备EOC和EEC传感器的单元件和纳米阵列并研究其性能；b)优化这些元件和阵列的设计；c)通过生成选定物理实体的图像来证明EOC和EEC纳米阵列的有效性。我们将采用有限元模型，利用漂移扩散方程和玻尔兹曼输运方程对这些EXX效应进行理论研究。智力价值：本研究的智力价值体现在EXX器件的纳米尺度和EXX传感器和阵列的介观物理的阐明，其中介观接近效应特别重要。我们专注于EOC和EEC阵列，因为它们对于纳米级制造来说是最简单的，更重要的是，因为它们具有潜在的应用于成像，具有超高的时间和空间分辨率，跨越各种学科的各种实体。更广泛的影响：我们预计这项研究将对教育和技术产生广泛的有益影响，因为一个不同的研究团队将把提议的纳米阵列设备开发成更不麻烦、成本更低的研究工具，用于快速筛选活癌细胞。此外，EEC和EEC传感器纳米阵列可以影响从临床应用到消费电子产品的各种技术，具有明显的社会效益。

The objective of this research is to qualitatively advance our understanding anddevelopment of EXX phenomena where E = extraordinary and XX = electroconductance (EEC) and optoconductance (EOC), etc. The approach is to a) prepare single elements and nanoarrays of EOC and EEC sensors and study their properties, b) optimize the design of these elements and arrays, and c) demonstrate the efficacy of EOC and EEC nanoarrays by producing images ofselected physical entities. We will conduct collateral theoretical investigations of these EXX effects by employing finite element modeling, with the drift diffusion equation and the Boltzmann transport equation.Intellectual Merit:The intellectual merit of this research is embodied in the scaling of EXX devices to the nano-regime and the elucidation of the mesoscopic physics of EXX sensors and arrays for which mesoscopic proximity effects are particularly significant. We focus here on EOC and EEC arrays because these are the least complex for nanoscale fabrication and, more importantly, because oftheir potential application to the imaging, with ultra-high temporal and spatial resolution, of various entities that span a variety of disciplines.Broader Impact:We anticipate that the proposed research will have broad beneficial impact on education and technology as a diverse team of researchers develops the proposed nanoarray devices into much less cumbersome and much lower cost research tools for uses such as rapid screening of live cancer cells. Moreover, EOC and EEC sensor nanoarrays could impact a variety of technologies spanning clinical applications to consumer electronics with obvious societalbenefits.