Silicon Resonant Tunnelling Diodes and Circuits
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
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Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Michael Kelly (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | I refer to the Cambridge-specific contribution to this project. We developed a simulation tool that allowed us to incorporate a range of key parameters for the values of the detailed current-voltage characteristics of the elements of a TSRAM cell, and from this infer the yield and reproducibility of TSRAM cells due to imperfections in the growth or processing of devices. The results was a clear set of tolerance rules for growth and processing, that would imply reaching a satisfactory yield in a manufacturing process. |
| Exploitation Route | This work helped MJK, working with Prof Mo Missous in Manchester, to drive forward a project, funded by a Royal Society Mercer award that has shown that the high yields in processed devices can be achieved, and commercialisation if simple tunnel devices is under way. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Environment |
| Description | The work was done in collaboration with Douglas Paul in the University of Glasgow, and we regularly informed a number of companies with generic interest in this area of our progress and how much further we still had to go to come up with a fully manufacturable process, which was beyond the purview of the grant but which was the ultimate aim of the work. Other finding on tunnelling per se has been award to myself and Professor Mo Missous in Manchester with the result that we have, after 25 years of trying we have at last got a manufacturable process for growing the tunnel barriers and we are working to refine the device processing. Of itself this will lead to a major expansion of the capability of electronics over the 250-650GHz range which has been poorly served until now. A major 4-university consortium is bidding for a programme grant led from Manchester, with many supporting companies who are specifying their needs and providing over £1.5 of indirect support. Dr Dingli Zuo refined his software development skills in the project and he has been recruited by Microsoft as a software system designer. All but one of my students have left for 'real world' appointments after graduating. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Electronics |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Royal Society Mercer Award |
| Amount | £139,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2015 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | 14th IEEE conference International Conference on Nanotechnology (2014) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The talk generated useful discussions and interest from other researchers wanting to use the technique we developed Helped in getting employment for the post-doctoral researcher for after the end of the grant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://ieeenano2014.org/index.htm |