Microelectronics
Articles tagged with Microelectronics
Hannover Messe: Thin polymer films – the material behind a new generation of pumps
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a new class of miniature actuators using ultrathin silicone film-based pumps. The pumps can operate without motors, compressed air, or lubricants and can be switched on and off as needed.
Energy-efficient cooling elements from a 3D printer: Elastocaloric cooling systems at Hannover Messe
Researchers at Saarland University have developed energy-efficient geometries for elastocaloric cooling elements using 3D printing. The technology uses shape-memory alloys to release heat when stretched and absorb it when released, promising a cleaner alternative to traditional cooling methods.
Hannover Messe: Electronic switches made from smart polymer films – a first step towards flexible circuit boards
Scientists develop a new generation of energy-efficient transistors made from thin, lightweight electrically conducting films. The film-based switch can control the flow of electric current with high precision, enabling complex motion sequences or fixed positions.
Programmable ‘smart stamp’ transfers microscopic chips to build 3D circuits
Researchers develop programmable system to selectively pick up and place delicate electronic components, enabling mass production of defect-free displays and 3D microchips. The 'smart stamp' technology uses localized heating to control a polymer's stickiness, allowing precise transfer of semiconductor chips and other materials.
Kalinin receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award
Kalinin's work is reshaping how new materials are designed, tested, and studied, enabling researchers to predict promising new materials computationally. He has developed machine learning-driven systems that can synthesize and characterize new materials at unprecedented speed.
Brain-inspired device could lead to faster, more energy-efficient AI hardware
A brain-inspired hardware platform has been developed to improve pattern recognition speed, accuracy, and energy efficiency. The platform combines memory and computation on the same chip, allowing nodes to interact collectively like neurons in the brain.
Distinguished researcher elected to National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Bruce Gnade, professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to advancing electronic materials and semiconductor device technologies. He is also recognized for his leadership in education and workforce development.
DNA provides a solution to our enormous data storage problem
ASU researchers use DNA to store and protect information in fundamentally new ways, offering a nature-inspired alternative to silicon-based solutions. The approach uses tiny DNA structures that act like physical letters to record and analyze electrical signals, providing high accuracy and scalability.
UC Irvine engineers invent wireless transceiver rivaling fiber-optic speed
Researchers at UC Irvine's Nanoscale Communication Integrated Circuits Labs developed a unique transceiver that operates in the F-band spectrum, enabling speeds of up to 120 gigabits per second. This technology offers massive bandwidths and can transform how machines, robots, and data centers communicate.
World record: Nano membrane for future quantum metrology
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a nano membrane with an extremely compact parallel-plate capacitor, achieving a new world record in measurement technology. The structure enables ultra-high-resolution atomic force microscopy with superior noise performance limited only by quantum physics.
Wearable hydrogel that tracks your body anywhere and anytime
Researchers created an ultrathin hydrogel electrode that can track vital signals without interruption, overcoming previous dehydration, freezing, and mechanical fragility issues. The new material forms a flexible layer that can withstand extreme temperatures and retain water content over time.
Ultrathin ferroelectric capacitors for next-generation memory devices
Researchers from Japan successfully downscaled a total ferroelectric memory capacitor stack to just 30 nm, maintaining high remanent polarization and paving the way for compact and efficient on-chip memory. This breakthrough demonstrates compatibility with semiconductor devices and paves the way for future technologies.
Extreme manufacturing enables ultra-soft, ultra-small, high-density neural implants
Researchers propose a new design approach for intracortical electrodes that can record from many neurons at once without damaging them. The authors outline various manufacturing approaches, including advanced silicon micromachining and thermal fiber drawing, to create flexible devices with low stiffness.
Exploring the origins of the universe: 145 low-noise amplifiers complete ALMA telescopes
The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) has been upgraded with 145 low-noise amplifiers, allowing for more sensitive measurements of cosmic radiation. This enables researchers to study dark and distant regions of the universe, gaining insights into star and galaxy formation.
Nanoscience breakthrough puts low-cost, printable electronics on the horizon
Scientists have developed a predictive framework for 2D semiconductor industry, enabling the creation of high-performance printed transistors and circuits. This technology has the potential to manufacture low-cost, flexible, and high-performance 2D electronics for various applications.
Cunjiang Yu develops the first rubber electronics that offer CMOS functionality
Researchers create fully stretchable complementary integrated circuits using elastic n-type and p-type transistors, retaining stable electrical performance even when stretched up to 50%. The breakthrough enables applications in medical implant, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces.
Korean researchers’ single memristor replaces both the driving transistor and storage capacitor in micro-LED
A team of Korean researchers has successfully integrated a single memristor into micro-LED pixels, replacing the traditional driving transistor and storage capacitor. This innovation enables more efficient and easier-to-build displays with improved brightness and color accuracy.
Fabricating skin-like devices from metals that can bend, stretch and heal
Researchers have developed flexible electrodes that mimic skin's softness and stretchability, enabling stable high-quality signals. Composite designs combining metallic systems are being explored to balance flexibility, conductivity, and transparency.
USC team demonstrates first optical device based on “optical thermodynamics”
The USC team created the first optical device that follows the emerging framework of optical thermodynamics, introducing a fundamentally new way to route light in nonlinear systems. The device uses simple thermodynamic principles to guide light naturally, without switches or digital addressing.
Innovative transistors for quantum chips
Researchers at TU Wien developed a new form of doping called modulation acceptor doping (MAD) that improves conductivity without incorporating foreign atoms. This technology enables faster switching times, lower power consumption, and better performance in quantum chips.
Johns Hopkins researchers discover new methods for making smaller microchips
The team of scientists has discovered a new process called chemical liquid deposition (CLD) that can create circuits invisible to the naked eye using B-EUV radiation. They have also found a way to deposit imidazole-based metal-organic resists from solution at silicon-wafer scale, controlling their thickness with nanometer precision.
Supermodes: When lasers team up
Researchers have discovered three primary responses in the liquid structure at the interface of electrochemical cells: bending, breaking, and reconnecting. These patterns, driven by the finite size of liquid molecules, offer a new understanding of battery technology and its potential for innovation.
Fluorinated polyimide: High toughness and low dielectric properties pave new path for high-frequency communication materials
Researchers have developed a novel fluorinated polyimide with improved mechanical properties and reduced dielectric constant, making it suitable for advanced microelectronic packaging. The material achieves low dielectric properties, excellent mechanical toughness, and synergistic optimization of comprehensive properties.
Scientists unveil new way to control magnetism in super-thin materials
Researchers have developed a new way to precisely tune magnetism using ultra-thin CrPS₄ material. This breakthrough could solve long-standing scientific problems and pave the way for smarter magnetic technologies.
On-line detection of additive concentrations in acidic copper plating solution for metal interconnection by an electrochemical microfluidic workstation
A novel electrochemical microfluidic workstation detects additive concentrations in acidic copper plating solution with average relative errors below 10%. The system reduces single-test solution consumption to 220 microliters, enabling online monitoring of process stability and reliability.
Exploring scalable pathways for cost-effective memristors using solution-processed 2D materials
The article discusses the use of solution-processed 2D materials to fabricate memristors, offering a scalable alternative to traditional methods. Recent breakthroughs have overcome manufacturing limitations, producing larger and less-damaged nanosheets with improved device performance.
Military combatants usher in an era of personalized training with new materials
A new e-textile platform developed by KAIST's research team combines 3D printing technology with advanced materials engineering to create customized training models for individual combatants. The platform uses flexible and highly durable sensors and electrodes printed directly onto textile substrates, enabling precise movement and huma...
Bulking up for solar power
Researchers at Kyoto University have created a new artificial heterostructure device that mimics broken spatial and time-reversal symmetry, enabling new bulk photovoltaic effects. The device shows promise for next-generation solar cells with improved efficiency and multifunctionality.
Novel technologies to advance next-generation semiconductor packaging
Researchers developed key technologies for precise and high-speed bonding and adhesive technology to address demands of high-performance computing applications. They successfully integrated chips onto a 300 mm waffle wafer, achieving enhanced bonding speed without chip-detachment failures.
Novel manufacturing technique for piezoelectric thin films
Empa researchers have developed a novel deposition process for piezoelectric thin films using HiPIMS, producing high-quality layers on insulating substrates at low temperatures. The technique overcomes the challenge of argon inclusions by timing the voltage application to accelerate desired ions.
Virginia Tech researchers develop recyclable, healable electronics
A new material has been developed by Virginia Tech researchers that can be recycled, reconfigured, and self-healed after damage. The material, called vitrimer circuit boards, offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional electronic composites.
Freeform geometry meets AI: A leap forward in MEMS system design
A new co-optimization framework for MEMS devices combines genetic algorithms with freeform geometry modeling, enhancing performance and robustness. The approach improved sensitivity by 195% in a MEMS accelerometer, demonstrating its potential for next-generation sensors across industries.
New microscope reveals heat flow in materials for green energy
Scientists have developed a new microscope that accurately measures directional heat flow in materials. This advancement can lead to better designs for electronic devices and energy systems, with potential applications in faster computers, more efficient solar panels, and batteries.
Advancing antiferromagnetic spintronics for next-gen memory and computing
Researchers at UC Riverside will explore how antiferromagnetic spintronics can improve memory density and computing speed. The project aims to develop ultrafast spin-based technology using special antiferromagnets with potential applications in advanced memory and computing.
Semiconductor Summit celebrates Florida's momentum in chip manufacturing, addresses workforce gaps
The Florida Semiconductor Summit analyzed the state's foothold in semiconductor production, highlighting its momentum and opportunities. The summit addressed the growing demand for chips in space and defense, as well as the need to bridge the workforce gap with education and engagement initiatives.
Program will train high schoolers to write code and develop microelectronics for artificial intelligence
Researchers at the University of Kansas are partnering with regional high schools to train about 500 students in AI coding and microelectronics. The program aims to develop a workforce that can specialize in AI and microelectronics, with a focus on community-centered projects and altruistic goals.
New photon-avalanching nanoparticles could enable next-generation optical computers
Researchers developed new photon avalanching nanoparticles that exhibit high nonlinearities, overcoming challenges in realizing intrinsic optical bistability at the nanoscale. The breakthrough paves the way for fabricating optical memory and transistors on a nanometer scale comparable to current microelectronics.
Precision therapy with microbubbles
A team of ETH Zurich researchers has demonstrated how microbubbles create tiny pores in the cell membrane, allowing drugs to pass through and potentially treating brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The breakthrough was achieved using a high-speed camera and specialized microscope.
Improving the way flash memory is made
Researchers have developed a new recipe for making flash memory that uses hydrogen fluoride plasma to create narrow, deep holes twice as fast. This breakthrough aims to address the growing demand for denser data storage in electronic devices.
Tiny chip, big breakthrough in spectral sensing for everyday devices
Researchers at Aalto University have developed a microscopic spectral sensor that can identify materials with unprecedented accuracy. The device achieves an extraordinary peak wavelength identification accuracy of ~0.2 nanometers, enabling it to distinguish thousands of colours.
SLAC will play a key role in DOE’s new research centers for advancing next-generation microelectronics
The Department of Energy's new research centers, led by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, aim to make microelectronics more energy efficient and operate in extreme environments. Researchers will focus on innovating material design, devices, and systems architectures to push computing and sensing capabilities.
To prevent an energy crisis, Sandia Labs cofounds new microelectronics research center
The Microelectronics Energy Efficiency Research Center for Advanced Technologies (MEERCAT) will focus on energy efficiency, exploring solutions that bridge sensing, edge processing, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Sandia is leading one of the eight energy efficiency-related research projects within the center.
Microelectronics Science Research Centers to lead charge on next-generation designs and prototypes
The US Department of Energy is investing $179 million in three Microelectronics Science Research Centers to develop next-generation microelectronics designed for extreme environments. PNNL will lead projects on neuromorphic computing, EUV lithography, and heterogeneous computing.
Department of Energy announces $179 million for Microelectronics Science Research Centers
The US Department of Energy awards $179 million to three Microelectronics Science Research Centers to perform basic research on microelectronics materials, device design, and manufacturing. The funding will support projects focused on transforming the energy efficiency of microelectronics and creating devices for extreme environments.
PPPL leading two CHIPS and Science Act projects
PPPL researchers will lead two collaborative projects involving national labs, academic, and industry partners to advance microelectronics and sensors. The projects aim to create a science-based plasma-processing toolbox for next-generation semiconductor device manufacturing processes.
How tech used by WWI flying aces inspired new cellular behavior discovery
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst designed a novel device that manipulates cell behavior by precisely modulating the pH of the cell's environment in real-time. The device was able to manipulate pH with a resolution of 0.1 pH units, far exceeding previous electrode-based attempts.
Researchers design new materials for advanced chip manufacturing
The researchers aim to facilitate patterning in the extreme ultraviolet range using indium-based materials, enabling smaller and more precise features on chips. This could lead to better performance and energy efficiency in microchips.
Ensuring a bright future for diamond electronics and sensors
Scientists at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory perfect processes for growing diamond at lower temperatures without sacrificing quality. The breakthrough could enable the implementation of diamond in silicon-based manufacturing, opening a door for advanced electronics and sensors.
UVA engineering professor secures federal small business grant to improve heat management in advanced microelectronics
Professor Patrick E. Hopkins of UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science has secured a $289,830 Small Business Innovation Research grant to develop a precise tool for measuring heat movement in microchips. The technology will enhance cooling and prevent overheating in next-generation devices.
Researchers succeed in taking 3D x-ray images of a skyrmion
Scientists have successfully captured 3D images of magnetic skyrmions, a nanoscale object that could revolutionize microelectronic storage devices and quantum computing. The breakthrough provides a foundation for nanoscale metrology and opens opportunities for the development of topological spintronic devices.
Material stimulated by light pulses could be leap toward more energy-efficient supercomputing
Researchers have discovered a ferroelectric material that can adapt to light pulses on the nanoscale, creating networked nanodomains that can be reconfigured without requiring much energy. This discovery could lead to more energy-efficient computing systems and artificial neural networks.
Flexible circuits made with silk and graphene on the horizon
Researchers at PNNL create a uniform two-dimensional layer of silk protein fragments on graphene, enabling the design and fabrication of silk-based electronics. This biocompatible system has potential applications in wearable and implantable health sensors, as well as computing neural networks.
Tiny new lasers fill a long-standing gap in the rainbow of visible-light colors, opening new applications
Scientists at NIST have created tiny lasers that generate light at yellow and green wavelengths, filling a long-standing gap in the visible-light spectrum. The new technology has potential applications in underwater communications, medical treatments, and quantum computing.
Novel ultrafast electron microscopy technique advances understanding of processes applicable to brain-like computing
Researchers developed a new technique to study charge density waves in materials, revealing two previously unobserved ways electricity can manipulate their state. The method allows for the observation of nanoscale lengths and nanosecond speeds, with potential applications in energy-efficient microelectronics.
Innovative, self-sufficient, eco-friendly: EU sponsors new microelectronics project
The EU's Pathfinder program supports the development of innovative, exploratory technologies with major potential impact. Researchers aim to design concepts for sustainable, resilient microelectronic devices using readily available materials.
New method unravels the mystery of slow electrons
Researchers have developed a new method to study slow electrons in solids, allowing for the deciphering of previously inaccessible information. By combining data from fast and slow electrons, scientists can now investigate how electrons release energy in their interaction with materials, crucial for applications such as cancer therapy ...
Groundbreaking microcapacitors could power chips of the future
Researchers have developed microcapacitors with record-high energy and power densities, paving the way for on-chip energy storage in electronic devices. By engineering thin films of hafnium oxide and zirconium oxide, scientists achieved a negative capacitance effect, allowing for greater amounts of charge to be stored.
Properties of new materials for microchips can now be measured well
The researchers used an optomechanical methodology to extract the thermal expansion coefficient, specific heat, and thermal conductivity of five different materials, including graphene and ultra-thin silicon membrane. This method provides a route toward improving our understanding of heat transport in the 2D limit.
New technique lets scientists create resistance-free electron channels
Researchers visualize chiral interface state at atomic scale for the first time, allowing on-demand creation of conducting channels. The technique has promise for building tunable networks of electron channels and advancing quantum computing.