New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Replacement for silicon devices looms big with new discovery

Date:
March 17, 2016
Source:
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Summary:
Two-dimensional electronic devices could inch closer to their ultimate promise of low power, high efficiency and mechanical flexibility with a new processing technique.
Share:
FULL STORY

Two-dimensional electronic devices could inch closer to their ultimate promise of low power, high efficiency and mechanical flexibility with a processing technique developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

A team led by Olga Ovchinnikova of ORNL's Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Division used a helium ion microscope, an atomic-scale "sandblaster," on a layered ferroelectric surface of a bulk copper indium thiophosphate. The result, detailed in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, is a surprising discovery of a material with tailored properties potentially useful for phones, photovoltaics, flexible electronics and screens.

"Our method opens pathways to direct-write and edit circuitry on 2-D material without the complicated current state-of-the-art multi-step lithographic processes," Ovchinnikova said.

She and colleague Alex Belianinov noted that while the helium ion microscope is typically used to cut and shape matter, they demonstrated that it can also be used to control ferroelectric domain distribution, enhance conductivity and grow nanostructures. Their work could establish a path to replace silicon as the choice for semiconductors in some applications.

"Everyone is looking for the next material -- the thing that will replace silicon for transistors," said Belianinov, the lead author. "2-D devices stand out as having low power consumption and being easier and less expensive to fabricate without requiring harsh chemicals that are potentially harmful to the environment."

Reducing power consumption by using 2-D-based devices could be as significant as improving battery performance. "Imagine having a phone that you don't have to recharge but once a month," Ovchinnikova said.


Story Source:

Materials provided by DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Alex Belianinov, Vighter Iberi, Alexander Tselev, Michael A. Susner, Michael A. McGuire, David Joy, Stephen Jesse, Adam J. Rondinone, Sergei V. Kalinin, Olga S. Ovchinnikova. Polarization Control via He-Ion Beam Induced Nanofabrication in Layered Ferroelectric Semiconductors. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016; DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b12056

Cite This Page:

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "Replacement for silicon devices looms big with new discovery." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 March 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160317105449.htm>.
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (2016, March 17). Replacement for silicon devices looms big with new discovery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 3, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160317105449.htm
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "Replacement for silicon devices looms big with new discovery." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160317105449.htm (accessed October 3, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES