Nanotechnology Spotlight – Latest Articles

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Showing Spotlights 17 - 24 of 240 in category All (newest first):

 

One-dimensional Weyl semimetals as unique topological materials for future electronics

nanoribbonsRecent investigations suggest that topological semimetals reveal unique properties that can enable unprecedented functionalities for future electronics. New research results shed light on the specifics of electron transport in quasi-one-dimensional topological Weyl semimetals and can be important for their proposed applications as downscaled interconnects. The results obtained in this work can be used for developing assessment methodologies for the reliability of topological semimetals.

Nov 22nd, 2022

MXene with its X factor may help downscaling 2D transistors

transistorResearchers show how MXenes' rich chemistry can be used to create doping-free 2D transistors with intrinsically low resistive contacts while maintaining balance mode operation. With a suitable functional termination, MXenes can become a semiconductor or a metal with a different work function. The researchers exploit this unique property of MXene to propose a Schottky barrier transistor, which can be implemented with a bare MXene by converting it to a semiconductor in the channel region with strategic functionalization.

Sep 27th, 2022

A memristive forming strategy for lowering the contact resistances of two-dimensional semiconductors

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, like transition-metal dichalcogenides, have become a competitive alternative to traditional semiconducting materials in the post-Moore era, and caused worldwide interest. However, before they can be used in practical applications, some key obstacles must be resolved. One of them is the large electrical contact resistances at the metal-semiconductor interfaces. Researchers have proposed a brand-new contact resistance lowering strategy of 2D semiconductors with a good feasibility, a wide generality and a high stability.

Sep 5th, 2022

In-memory mathematical operations with spin-orbit torque devices

photographerResearchers introduce spin orbit torque (SOT) devices to experimentally realize in-memory analogue mathematical operations such as summation, subtraction and four-quadrant multiplication, to implement general-purpose applications such as image or signal processing for edge computing. In addition to nonvolatility and scalability, the CMOS-compatible SOT technique further possesses low energy consumption, high speed and endurance. Therefore, SOT devices offer an avenue for dense in-memory analogue computing paradigms.

Aug 16th, 2022

Biodegradable electronic ink for recyclable printed electronics

e-inkThe goal of the electronics industry has always been to build durable devices with stable performance that last a very long time. Self-destructing, transient electronics however, are designed with the exact opposite goal: to dissolve harmlessly into their surroundings after functioning for a predetermined amount of time. Researchers now demonstrate novel biodegradable, recyclable, conductive, flexible, and printable materials that can be applied across many electronic devices to serve as a cornerstone for the development of ecofriendly and recyclable electronics.

Jun 22nd, 2022

Realization of 'silicon-like' doping in organic semiconductors

stacked-semiconductorOrganic semiconductors (OSCs) are a class of semiconductor materials consisting of conjugated molecules or polymers. Compared to inorganic semiconductors, OSCs have distinctive advantages including being solution-processable, suitable for low-cost and large-area fabrication of electronics, and applicable to flexible/stretchable electronics, among others. Given the importance of doping techniques for semiconductors, it is highly attractive to establish doping methodologies for OSCs similar to that for silicon. This would simplify the difficulty and cost of synthesizing different types of OSCs for various applications, as well as lead to interesting structures such as organic PN homojunctions.

Jun 9th, 2022

Using DNA to make nanoelectronics

square-patternTo realize the full potential of DNA nanotechnology in nanoelectronics applications requires addressing a number of scientific and engineering challenges: how to create and manipulate DNA nanostructures? How to use them for surface patterning and integrating heterogeneous materials at the nanoscale? And how to use these processes to produce electronic devices at lower cost and with better performance? These topics are the focus of a recent reviewarticle.

Feb 17th, 2022

Modulation of negative differential resistance in black phosphorus transistors

wavy-colorsNegative differential resistance (NDR), which describes a decrease in electrical current as the applied bias increases, has always been one of the hottest topics in solid-state electronic devices since L. Esaki first demonstrated this phenomenon in heavily-doped Ge p-n junctions in 1958. Researchers now report the modulation of a unique room-temperature NDR effect with high peak current in ambipolar black phosphorus transistors. The simplicity of this structure, combined with the recent progress in scalable production of BP films, makes the BP NDR devices promising for practical electronic applications.

Aug 10th, 2021