Collaborative Research: Ultra-high Performance Carbon Nanotube ?Parallel Nanotube Architectures? (PNAs) for On-chip Gigascale Local and Global Interconnects

本研究的目的是解决未来微处理器片上互连的某些关键问题，这些问题可能会在不到十年的时间内阻碍微电子工业的进步。提出了可行的革命性替代方案，以克服使用碳纳米管结构的一些障碍。该方法是开发高度组织化的超高性能碳纳米管架构，可以潜在地取代和超越现有的技术，用于极窄（低于22纳米）的未来互连。尽管工业技术路线图已经设想了碳纳米管架构将在几个方面全面超越目前的互连技术，但它们的发展和集成几乎没有进展。多学科的协同智力刺激的概念和他们的研究人员由此产生的发明，该计划将弥合一个关键的技术差距在微处理器行业。本研究计划开发的革命性互连结构有望达到或超过技术路线图的预测，并可能促进微处理器行业的持续进步。该项目最富有成效的影响将是教育和培训一批年轻的研究人员（从高中到研究生），他们具备解决纳米/微电子行业尖端技术问题所需的适当技能。先进课程材料、短期研究模块和标志性教育项目的开发，如纳米级工业材料在先进技术和教育中的应用（ANIMATE），将在早期阶段激励学生进行先进的研究和教育，这将在扭转缺乏来自不同背景的充分代表方面发挥关键作用。

The objective of this research is to address and resolve certain critical problems of on-chip interconnects in future microprocessors that threaten to impede the progress of the microelectronics industry in less than a decade. Feasible revolutionary alternatives to overcome some of those impediments using carbon nanotube architectures are proposed. The approach is to develop highly organized ultra-high performance carbon nanotube architectures that can potentially replace and outperform existing technologies for extremely narrow (below 22 nanometers) future interconnects. Although industrial technology roadmaps have envisaged that carbon nanotube architectures will comprehensively outperform present interconnect technologies in several ways, there has been little progress in their development and integration. A synergy of multidisciplinary intellectually stimulating concepts and their resulting inventions by the investigators, this program will bridge a crucial technological gap in the microprocessor industry. The anticipated revolutionary interconnect structures developed in this research program are expected to meet or exceed technology roadmap projections and could facilitate the continuing progress of microprocessor industries. The most fruitful impact of this program will be in educating and training a young pool of researchers (from high-school to graduate students) with appropriate skill sets needed for tackling cutting-edge technological issues in nano/microelectronics industries. The development of advanced course materials, short-term research modules and signature educational programs such as Application of Nanoscale Industrial Materials for Advanced Technology and Education (ANIMATE) will stimulate students towards advanced research and education at an early stage, which will play a key role in reversing the lack of adequate representation from diverse backgrounds.