Articles tagged with Silicon
Researchers at UCSD use microscopic silicon chips with magnetic properties to control the movement of particles and cargo in oil droplets. This allows for efficient transport and manipulation of tiny biological samples without pumps or channels.
Researchers at Cornell University have created a device that can detect as few as six viruses using a tiny paddle oscillator. The device, which uses the natural resonant frequency of the paddles to sense changes in mass, has the potential to differentiate between various pathogens and toxic organic chemicals.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has developed a compact, all-optical switch on silicon that can control light signals in real-time. This innovation paves the way for high-speed optical routing in fiber-optic communications, eliminating the need for conversion between electrical and optical signals.
Scientists at UC Santa Cruz have successfully guided light waves through liquids and gases using novel waveguides made from silicon fabrication technology. The device enables detection of molecular fluorescence and has potential applications in fields such as chemistry, biology, and quantum optics.
Researchers at Boston University have developed a new type of memory cell that outperforms traditional chip-based systems in terms of speed, density, and power consumption. The nanomechanical memory cell can retrieve information at speeds of millions and billions of cycles per second, while operating on minuscule amounts of power.
A team of engineers at Northwestern University has developed a method for precisely aligning multiple types of molecules on a silicon surface at room temperature. This breakthrough enables the construction of nanoscale systems such as molecular transistors or light-emitting diodes, and paves the way for integrating with current technol...
Researchers at Cornell University have created a tiny oscillator that uses a carbon nanotube to vibrate at radio frequencies, enabling mass sensing and gas detection capabilities. The device is so small that it can potentially weigh individual atoms, offering new possibilities for scientific research and applications.
Researchers at Penn State have created a new method to speed up the process of capturing carbon dioxide from combustion gases using serpentine minerals. This innovative approach significantly reduces the time required for sequestration from geologic timescales, making it a promising solution for mitigating climate change.
Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a process to modify silica aerogels with silicon and transition metal compounds using chemical vapor techniques. This enhancement increases the aerogel's strength by four-fold while retaining its valuable porosity and density characteristics.
Cornell University researchers have discovered a method to precisely control the electronic properties of complex oxide materials at the atomic level, replacing silicon insulators. The technique involves removing oxygen atoms from thin films to create vacancies, which act as electron-donating dopants and can be controlled with high pre...
Princeton scientists develop a breakthrough technique using nanoimprinting to mass-produce devices with tiny features, achieving unprecedented density and space between ridges. The method uses a mold made from a fine comb-like pattern, enabling the creation of miniature electronic circuits with improved memory capacity.
A UCLA team successfully controlled and detected a single electron's spin in an ordinary commercial transistor chip. This achievement demonstrates that conventional silicon technology is adaptable enough to accommodate the future electronic requirements of new technologies like quantum computing.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new silicon-based photodetector that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The device uses nanoparticles dispensed from silicon wafers, which efficiently couple with UV light and produce electrical current.
Computer models show Io's volcanic eruptions vaporize sodium, potassium, silicon, and iron gases into its atmosphere. Researchers found single-atom and molecular forms of these elements, which could lead to unusual gas formations.
Researchers at USC and NASA Ames have developed a novel transistor architecture using molecular-scale nanowire memory cells that can hold three bits of data each. The device achieves a density of 40 Gigabits per square centimeter, surpassing silicon-based memories.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a way to image and digitally restore mechanical audio recordings, such as shellac phonograph discs. This technology enables the mass digitization of thousands of blues, classical, jazz, and spoken word recordings in the Library of Congress's archives.
Atom-scale images reveal the preferred location of atoms in silicon nitride ceramic, matching theoretical calculations. This breakthrough enables researchers to predict and manipulate material structure, leading to tougher and stronger ceramic materials for advanced applications.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new type of nanotube transistor that uses an electrically conducting polymer gate to reduce power demand and improve device performance. The innovation offers great promise for future electronic devices, including those even smaller than current models.
Researchers successfully demonstrated precise control over molecular electronic properties using a scanning tunneling microscope. They added up to seven potassium atoms to a single buckyball molecule, altering its electrical properties.
A team of NIST and IBM researchers has quantified 'electrical capture defects' in hafnium oxide chips, which can drain currents and hinder transistor operation. By applying a voltage pulse and measuring current, the scientists identified critical locations where these defects occur near the silicon substrate-hafnium oxide interface.
Researchers analyze over 59,000 grains from Acfer 094 meteorite and identify nine specks of silicate stardust. The discovery provides information about stellar sources, nuclear processes, and the physical and chemical compositions of stellar atmospheres.
Researchers at OGI School of Science & Technology have successfully grown silicon nanowires in a precise location and direction using electrical fields. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize the microelectronic industry by enabling the fabrication of high-performance electronic devices.
A new method for improving trench profiles in the Bosch process has been developed, allowing for maximum depth-width ratios of over 30. This is achieved through two techniques: adding a third plasma pulse to remove polymer layer and optimizing passivation pulses to prevent polymer deposition.
Researchers found that nanotubes with tiny bumps cause less scar tissue and stimulate neurons to grow more fingerlike extensions, needed for brain activity regeneration. The findings suggest using a mixture of plastics and nanotubes could decrease scar tissue formation around electrodes.
Scientists at UC Berkeley and Stanford developed a working, integrated silicon circuit that incorporates carbon nanotubes. The breakthrough allows for the creation of high-performance memory chips capable of storing orders of magnitude more data than current silicon chips.
Researchers at TU Vienna and Clausthal have discovered a new material, strontium titanate, that can be used as a gate oxide to overcome the miniaturization limit of transistors. The material's electrical properties can be controlled by chemical processes at the interface, enabling the design of even smaller and more efficient transistors.
Researchers at Ohio State University have created hybrid materials that are virtually defect-free, paving the way for ultra-efficient electronics, solar cells and LEDs. The new technology could lead to faster, less expensive computer chips and bridge the gap between traditional silicon and light-related technologies.
Researchers have viewed an unprecedentedly perfect interface between layers of semiconductor materials germanium and silicon dioxide. This 'atomically sharp' interface could be used to boost the speed of computer chips. The discovery may aid in the design of other devices, including medical implants.
A molecular resonant tunneling device has been successfully realized, offering improved efficiency and reduced power consumption in computer architectures. The device, which works at room temperature and on silicon, holds promise for future applications in high-sensitivity sensors.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new diode that can replace some circuits on a typical chip, simplifying design without compromising performance. The diode conducts 150,000 amps per square centimeter, ideal for low-power devices and medical applications
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing new interconnect technologies that enable three-dimensional circuit integration, promising improved performance and function. The technology uses damascene processing to bond wafers together face-to-face, reducing global travel distance and enabling faster signal transmission.
Researchers at UCSD create tiny silicon chips, 'smart dust,' that can detect chemical or biological compounds and report information to the outside world. The dual-sided particles can collect at a target and self-assemble into a larger reflector for remote sensing applications.
Scientists at the University of California - Berkeley have developed a synthetic motor that is smaller than biological motors and can be controlled externally. The motor uses electrostatic manipulation and has potential applications in optical switching, microwave oscillators, and microfluidic devices.
Researchers have developed a miniature biolab on a silicon chip that captures DNA from samples, purifies it, and performs polymerase chain reaction to rapidly replicate the selected segment of DNA. This breakthrough simplifies the process and enables real-time automated detection of biological agents.
A new technique allows for the growth of silicon nanowires and carbon nanotubes directly onto a microchip, eliminating cumbersome middle steps in sensor manufacturing. This method enables the production of ultra-sensitive biochemical sensors and early-stage disease detectors that can detect single viruses or toxic agents.
Researchers at NC State and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have successfully tuned the atomic-level zone between substances, opening the way for smaller, faster and smarter computers. By manipulating the electronic dipole charge at the interface, they've found a way to overcome the limitations of Schottky barriers.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a stable, DNA-modified diamond film that can detect biological molecules with high accuracy. The sensor, which is about the size of a postage stamp, has the potential to be used in early warning systems for defense against biological weapons.
Buriak's innovative approach to semiconductor technology enables direct communication between molecular features and devices, allowing for new applications in drug delivery and biological interfaces. Her research has been licensed to a company for in vivo drug delivery, potentially enabling direct interaction with the brain.
Phytoplankton, especially diatoms with silicon, play a crucial role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, warmer ocean temperatures hinder this process, creating a global warming Catch-22.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new method for printing ultrasmall patterns in silicon wafers, which could increase transistor density on chips by 100-fold. This breakthrough, called Laser-Assisted Direct Imprint, eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming etching processes.
A team of researchers has demonstrated the first wireless communication system built entirely on a computer chip, breaking the need for wires to transmit information within the chip. This technology could lead to faster chips, tiny microphones, motion detectors, and other devices.
T. Don Tilley receives the 2002 Award in Organometallic Chemistry for developing new ways to make chemicals, including flexible semiconductors and reactive building blocks. His research aims to improve semiconductor materials and create new properties through polysilene technology.
Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a new type of sensor based on porous silicon, offering enhanced sensitivity and reduced power demands. The devices can detect gases at concentrations as low as 10 parts-per-million, making them suitable for various sensing applications.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a gallium-based synthesis method to produce large bundles of aligned silica nanowires. The nanowires can form unusual structures resembling cones, cherries, carrots, and comets, with potential applications as optical splitters in nanometer-scale photonic systems.
Researchers at UC Riverside demonstrate the lateral Casimir force, a new type of force that can create horizontal sliding motion between surfaces. This shape-dependent force has vast implications for micromachines and microdevices.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a family of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles in various sizes and colors, which can be used for electronic displays, flash memories, and biomedical imaging. The particles are photostable and bright, allowing for non-invasive detection and study of biological phenomena.
Researchers at UCSD have discovered that silicon wafers can be easily made into tiny explosives, ideal for rapid chemical analysis of toxic metals. The explosives can also be used as power sources for micro-electrical mechanical systems, enabling the creation of self-destructing devices.
Researchers at Penn and Illinois have created nanoscale peapods that exhibit tunable electronic properties. By manipulating encapsulated molecules, they can engineer electron motion inside nanotubes in a predictable way.
Researchers from Bell Labs have created molecular-scale organic transistors that can rival silicon transistors in performance. The breakthrough could lead to thousands of times more transistors being squeezed into the same space as today's circuits.
Researchers found that tiny holes etched in silicon chips can move and align themselves with increased heat, leading to more energy-efficient configurations. This knowledge could help lead to smaller, more precise silicon chips for computers and other devices.
A new paper predicts that silicon semiconductors can continue miniaturization for at least two decades, driven by clever engineering and nanotechnology innovations. The researchers identify the fundamental limits governing future miniaturization, including energy requirements and material constraints.
Researchers have developed a new circuit using hollow carbon nanotubes, which can switch between 'on' and 'off' states and perform logic functions. The design enables more complex circuits to be built, potentially replacing silicon in microchips within the next 10-15 years.
Researchers at Lehigh University are developing a tiny generating plant, housed on a silicon chip, that can produce enough hydrogen to run power-consuming portable devices. The chip-based micro-chemical plant demonstrates feasibility in producing small amounts of hydrogen.
Two Cornell University researchers are working on separate projects to develop new devices that could lead to huge increases in data storage and processing speed. George Malliaras is investigating the electrical properties of individual molecules, while Robert Buhrman is studying spin manipulation and quantum manipulation.
Chemists at UNC-CH have answered a decade-old scientific riddle about the origin of an energy barrier that prevents reactions except at high temperatures. The study found that dimer sites, pairs of silicon atoms, play a crucial role in the reaction by tilting up and down like a see-saw.
Researchers have simulated silicon nanowires with promising results, predicting changes in electronic states, Schottky barriers, and doping methods that could improve device performance and consistency. The simulations suggest new ways to overcome current technological challenges, including the use of nanoscale clusters as dopants.
The new microrobots, made of gold and polypyrrole, can function in salty broths, blood, and other liquids. They may be useful for fundamental studies, manufacturing small devices, or minimally invasive surgery, according to the researchers.
Peter Jutzi, a German chemist, has received the Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry from the American Chemical Society. He developed new materials for the electronics and optics industries by designing methods to make compounds of silicon and carbon.
Researchers develop diamond micromachines using amorphous diamond, eliminating internal stresses and reducing stiction. The machines have potential applications in medical devices, such as drug-dispensing units, without generating allergic reactions.
Researchers at U of T have created a new kind of luminescent silicon film that emits and transmits photons, a significant step forward in photonics. The discovery holds out the promise of new improved light-emitting diodes, optical interconnectors, displays, and chemical sensors.