Metal-Free Carbon Nanotube Growth for Nanoelectronics Applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Electronics and Computer Science
Abstract
The investigators at the University of Southampton have been combining expertise in SiGeC epitaxy in the School of Electronics & Computer Science with expertise in carbon nanotube growth in the School of Physics & Astronomy in a series of proof of principle experiments. These experiments have clearly demonstrated an entirely new method of producing carbon nanotubes using carbon implanted germanium quantum dots on silicon, which enables single and multi- walled carbon nanotubes to be grown without the need for metal catalysts. The absence of metal in the growth process is an important advantage for this new method because it will allow carbon nanotubes to be integrated on the same wafer as silicon nanoelectronics without introducing undesirable metallic contamination. This proposal brings together expertise in the materials science of carbon nanotubes at the University of Oxford with expertise in silicon processing and carbon nanotube growth at the University of Southampton. We seek to put our understanding of these exciting new results on a solid scientific foundation and at the same time to improve the yield, density and distribution of the nanotubes. The growth conditions will be systematically varied and a variety of characterisation techniques (Raman, SEM, TEM etc.) applied to characterise the nanotubes and identify the nature of the seeds. Carbon ion implantation and SiGe:C epitaxy will be compared as approaches for seeding the nanotube growth. If this latter approach is found to be effective, a growth process will be developed that allows the seed layers and the carbon nanotubes to be grown in a single step, thereby providing an attractive route to exploitation for our patented growth process. Finally, proof of principle electrical characterisation of the carbon nanotubes will be performed.
Publications
Uchino T
(2009)
Growth of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Germanium Nanocrystals Formed by Implantation
in Journal of The Electrochemical Society
Kazmierski T
(2010)
Numerically Efficient Modeling of CNT Transistors With Ballistic and Nonballistic Effects for Circuit Simulation
in IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology
Uchino T
(2010)
Growth of Carbon Nanotubes on HfO 2 towards Highly Sensitive Nano-Sensors
in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
Uchino T
(2011)
Metal-Catalyst-Free Growth of Carbon Nanotubes and Their Application in Field-Effect Transistors
in Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters
Ayre GN
(2011)
On the mechanism of carbon nanotube formation: the role of the catalyst.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Uchino T
(2011)
Metal-Catalyst-Free Growth of Silica Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes Using Ge Nanostructures
in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
Uchino T
(2013)
Electrical transport properties of isolated carbon nanotube/Si heterojunction Schottky diodes
in Applied Physics Letters
Description | The project was essentially blue skies research and demonstrated that carbon nanotubes could be successfully grown without the use of a metal catalyst. This was achieved by using germanium as a catalyst. Metal-free growth is important for applications where carbon nanotubes need to be integrated with front-end silicon electronics. |
Exploitation Route | Our research has shown that carbon nanotubes are highly unlikely to replace silicon electronics. I suspect that the same conclusion will also be drawn about graphene. However, there may be applications for carbon nanotubes (and graphene) integrated with silicon electronics. For example, Intel are research carbon nanotubes for application in silicon integrated circuits, where the nanotubes are used to fill vias between different levels of metallisation. |
Sectors | Electronics |
Description | The deposition techniques developed have led to an industrially (Oxford Instruments) funded collaboration on deposition and etch techniques for nanotechnology. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Electronics |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology |
Organisation | Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |