Discover Top Posts Tagged with #atomic layer deposition

Cool satellites and flexible electronics: Thin interlayers strengthen flexible composite materials

The picture that pops up before our inner eye when we hear the word "satellite" is probably this: Two extended solar "wings" and a compact body wrapped in foil with a golden or silvery shimmer. Researchers at Empa's Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures laboratory in Thun are now working to improve this foil. As its widespread use indicates, the material is crucial for satellites and space probes. It is known as multilayer insulation, or superinsulation, and consists of several layers of a robust polymer coated with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum. The coated film can also be encountered on Earth, for example in the form of survival blankets. Aboard spacecraft, superinsulation protects the electronics from temperature fluctuations. "For satellites in low Earth orbit, the temperature difference between the sun-facing side and the side facing away is around 200 degrees. A similar temperature difference also occurs when a satellite flies into Earth's shadow or out of the shadow back to the sunlit side of the planet—and this happens 16 times a day," says Empa researcher Barbara Putz. "Electronics work best at room temperature, though." And since it is directly exposed to space conditions, the superinsulation itself must also be resistant to extreme conditions.

Plasma treatment strategy enhances semiconductor device performance

A joint research team, led by Professor Byungjo Kim of the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering at UNIST and Professor Jihwan An of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH has pioneered a fabrication technology to improve the performance of semiconductor devices. All electronic devices—from smartphones and laptops to supercomputers—require small storage spaces to temporarily hold data. Memory semiconductors such as DRAM play a crucial role in this function. However, as these devices become increasingly miniaturized and fabricated with thinner films, issues such as electrical leakage and reduced stability have become significant challenges. Within DRAM, the capacitor—a tiny component—acts as a container for electrical charge. To effectively store charge, this container must be lined with a high-quality dielectric layer that can withstand high electrical fields.

UV-light method cuts computer chip manufacturing steps in half

University of Missouri researchers have devised a more efficient and precise method for manufacturing computer chips. Traditionally, engineers use a technique known as atomic layer deposition (ALD) to apply ultra-thin layers of material across a chip's surface. But the process coats everything, even areas that should stay clean. Think of it like painting an entire house in one step—walls, ceilings and floors—but accidentally covering the windows, too. That's a problem when you're working with chips packed with billions of microscopic switches, called transistors, that control the flow of electricity inside smartphones, laptops and other electric devices.

Researchers unveil innovative deposition technology for uniform metal alloys at the atomic scale

A research team at UNIST has developed a new deposition technology that enables the uniform mixing of different metals within a single atomic layer. This advancement holds significant promise for applications across semiconductor manufacturing, electrochemical catalysis, and various other fields. Led by Professor Soo-Hyun Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering at UNIST, the team successfully fabricated alloy thin films using an improved atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, termed atomic layer modulation (ALM). This innovative approach allows for precise atomic-level blending of precious metals such as platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru), overcoming longstanding limitations of conventional methods.

Solid-state batteries get a boost with new protective coating

A thin, glass-like layer could be the key to longer-lasting, cost-effective solid-state batteries. In everyday life, we use many protective barriers: Sunscreen shields us from the sun, umbrellas keep us dry in the rain and oven mitts protect our hands from hot pans. Similarly, batteries need protection to stop their internal components from breaking down due to environmental exposure. Inside of a battery, the electrolyte is the chemical medium that allows the electrical charge to flow between its components. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) use solid electrolytes instead of the liquid ones found in regular lithium-ion batteries. By using solid electrolytes, SSBs could revolutionize the energy storage industry by offering better energy density, safety and lifespan than lithium-ion ones.

Precise layering in catalysts offers an improved way for building sustainable chemicals

Motivated to turn greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into high value chemicals like methanol, EPFL chemical engineers have developed a new method to make catalysts. Catalysts are major tools in the chemical industry and are largely made to make petrochemicals. In this method, they have developed a way to build—with near atomic precision—metal clusters on solid supports that have the potential to improve catalytic activity. The results are published in Nature Catalysis. "You want to produce as much product per time per catalyst as possible, and we've found that when a catalyst is prepared with near atomic precision, you get a more active material," says Jeremy Luterbacher, professor at EPFL's Laboratory of Sustainable and Catalytic Processing. "This technique is particularly interesting for difficult reactions like that of carbon dioxide with hydrogen gas for producing renewable methanol."

Ultrablack thin-film coating could make next-gen telescopes even better

Sometimes, seeing clearly requires complete black. For astronomy and precision optics, coating devices in black paint can cut down on stray light, enhancing images and boosting performance. For the most advanced telescopes and optical systems, every little bit matters, so their manufacturers seek out the blackest blacks to coat them. In the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A, researchers from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an ultrablack thin-film coating for aerospace-grade magnesium alloys. Their coating absorbs 99.3% of light while being durable enough to survive in harsh conditions. For telescopes operating in the vacuum of space, or optical equipment in extreme environments, existing coatings are often insufficient.

An indium oxide-based transistor created using atomic layer deposition

Over the past decades, engineers have created increasingly advanced and highly performing integrated circuits (ICs). The rising performance of these circuits in turn increased the speed and efficiency of the technology we use every day, including computers, smartphones and other smart devices.

To continue to improve the performance of integrated circuits in the future, engineers will need to create thinner transistors with shorter channels. Down-scaling existing silicon-based devices or creating smaller devices using alternative semiconducting materials that are compatible with existing fabrication processes, however, has proved to be challenging.

Researchers at Purdue University have recently developed new transistors based on indium oxide, a semiconductor that is often used to create touch screens, flatscreen TVs and solar panels. These transistors, introduced in a paper published in Nature Electronics, were fabricated using atomic layer deposition, a process that is often employed by transistor and electronics manufacturers.

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