MRI-R2 : Acquisition for In Vacuo Characterization and Pb-VI MBE System Upgrades

技术摘要：该合同是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。铅基IV-VI半导体合金是一种独特的多功能材料，由于其独特的和可调的光学、电子、磁性和热电性。自20世纪70年代后期以来，用于红外（IR）传感器/探测器/成像仪的Pb-VI材料的发展被II-VI （HgCdTe）和III-V （InSb）所掩盖。随着目前二维成像焦平面阵列的使用，IV-VI半导体再次成为红外器件的最佳选择。它们可以容忍通常限制II-VI和III-V半导体材料产量的结构和点缺陷。此外，目前有相当大的动力开发用于高效热电能量收集的Pb-VI材料。尽管在传感器和能量收集方面有这些主要的技术驱动因素，但在提高对Pb-VI材料系统的理解和质量方面的研究充其量是最少的。在这个项目中，我们正在通过大学多光谱实验室、俄克拉荷马州立大学和紫晶研究公司的合作努力，追求材料的基础发展。真空表征设备的集成，包括RHEED、RGA、XPS和AES，允许对生长过程和半导体性能进行即时反馈，而不受这些表面从真空中移除时形成的氧化物和污染物的阻碍。此次收购使基础研究得以实现，包括了解三元Pb-VI合金之间的能带对准（将立即用于器件建模工作），了解Pb-VIs在II-VI/Si复合衬底上的生长模式，以及半导体异质结构生长过程中的反馈，用于缺陷工程/纳米结构。这些项目将改进设备设计，随后增强能量收集和传感器性能。这一努力将重点放在研究生和本科生的研究经验的结合上，与小企业的合作也为学术环境中的跨学科合作打开了大门，因为物理学家、材料科学家和电气工程师可以在选定的材料系统中理解、发展和设计先进的设备结构。非技术总结：该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。为了提高对材料基本特性的理解，在原始环境中研究该系统是很重要的。通过获得一些专门的分析工具，在这种环境下工作，铅盐基材料的基础研究将作为大学多光谱实验室、俄克拉荷马州立大学和紫晶研究公司之间合作努力的一部分进行。对铅盐基半导体的研究解决了安全、健康、能源和环境部门中社会关注的领域。这些材料对其他半导体系统中限制产量的材料问题的容忍度要高得多。这项研究将为制造低成本、高性能的红外成像阵列提供使能技术，使先进的传感技术能够渗透到以前未开发的市场，如非军事监视、用于肿瘤和其他医学成像的红外射线照相以及环境监测。这种材料系统也是固态热电装置的主要候选者，通过允许通过直接转换为电力来收集废热，从而具有显著的经济和改善社会环境影响的潜力。该项目将对物理学、电气工程和材料科学领域的本科生和研究生进行重要技术培训，同时让这些学生接触高科技产业。

0959787BarnesOklahoma State U. Multispectral LaboratoriesTechnical Summary: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Lead based IV-VI semiconductor alloys are unique as a multifunctional material due to its unique and tunable optical, electronic, magnetic and thermoelectric properties. Pb-VI material development has been overshadowed by II-VI (HgCdTe) and III-V (InSb) for infrared (IR) sensors/detectors/imagers since the late 1970s. With the current use of two dimensional imaging focal plane arrays the IV-VI semiconductors are again the optimal choice for IR devices. They are tolerant of structural and point defects that typically limit yields of II-VI and III-V semiconductor materials. Also, there is currently considerable drive to develop the Pb-VI materials for high efficiency thermoelectric energy harvesting applications. Despite these major technical drivers in sensors and energy harvesting, research in advancing the understanding and quality of the Pb-VI material system is minimal at best. In this program we are pursuing the fundamental development of the materials by a cooperative effort between the University Multispectral Laboratory, Oklahoma State University and Amethyst Research Inc. Integration of in vacuo characterization equipment, including RHEED, RGA, XPS and AES, allows for immediate feedback to growth processes and semiconductor properties unhindered by the formation of oxides and contaminants that occurs when these surfaces are removed from vacuum. Basic research enabled by this acquisition includes understanding the band alignment between ternary Pb-VI alloys (to be immediately fed into device modeling efforts), understanding growth modes for Pb-VIs on II-VI/Si composite substrates and feedback during growth of semiconductor heterostructures for defect engineering/nanostructuring. These projects will lead to improved device design and subsequently enhanced energy harvesting and sensor performance. This effort places an emphasis on incorporation of graduate and undergraduate student research experiences, which in collaboration with small business also opens the door to cross-disciplinary cooperation in the academic environment as physicists, material scientists and electrical engineers understand, grow and design advanced device structures in the selected material system.Non-Technical Summary:This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). To enhance the understanding of basic material properties it is important to investigate the system in a pristine environment. By acquiring a number of specialized analysis tools designed to work in such an environment, basic research of Pb-salt based materials will be performed as part of a collaborative effort between the University Multispectral Laboratory, Oklahoma State University and Amethyst Research Inc. Investigation of Pb-salt based semiconductors addresses areas of societal concern in the security, health, energy and environmental sectors. These materials are far more tolerant of material issues that limit yields in other semiconductor systems. The research that will be performed provides the enabling technology to manufacture low-cost, high performance infrared imaging arrays, allowing advanced sensing to penetrate previously untapped markets such as non-military surveillance, infrared radiography for tumor and other medical imaging, and environmental monitoring. This material system is also a prime candidate for solid-state thermoelectric power devices that have the potential for significant economic and improved environmental impact to society by allowing harvesting of waste heat through direct conversion to electricity. The project will involve the training of undergraduate and graduate students in physics, electrical engineering and materials science in a vital technology, and also simultaneously involve and expose these students to high technology industry.