(MURI 18) Empty State Electronics
Abstract
Solid-state transistors are inherently limited by two factors ? scattering of carriers by ionized impurities, defects and phonons and dielectric breakdown. Scattering of carriers limits the maximum velocity that could be attained by electrons in a semiconductor channel to 1×107 cm/s < vsat < 2×107 cm/s. Dielectric breakdown limits the electrostatic field that can be applied to the channel 3 × 105 V/cm < FBD < 107 V/cm. These two factors limit the performance semiconductor devices and circuits. Furthermore, solid state transistors are severely limited in high temperature environments and are extremely susceptible to damage and failure in high radiation environments. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Colorado (CU), Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Boise State University (BSU) propose a program on nano-vacuum channel transistors (NVCT) to exploit ballistic electron transport in nanoscale vacuum channels. Integrated circuits based on NVCTs have the potential to have low propagation delay and low power-delay product. Electron velocities are expected to approach 5 × 108 cm/s (?1% the speed of light) at modest voltage biases for devices with short channel length (Lc = 100 nm). The Johnson Figure of Merit (JFoM) of the NVCT is expected to be >20× that of GaN. Furthermore, NVCTs have the potential to operate in extremely harsh environments, including high temperatures and high radiation conditions because both the electron injection mechanism into the channel and transport of electrons in the channel are temperature and radiation insensitive. Our proposed program addresses fundamental problems that have plagued vacuum nanoelectronic devices for decades ? performance, uniformity, stability, reliability and lifetime.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 28, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810436
Entities
People
- Akintunde Akinwande
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force