Applications of

Nanotechnology in Electronics

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Electronics and Computers

Nanotechnology Makes:

• Smaller Transistors• Smaller Memory• Smaller Circuitry

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Nanotechnology in Computer Processing

Moore’s Law

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Moore’s Law describes a trend of technology. It states that the number of transistors that can be put on a single chip will double every two years.

Wgsimon

cc by WGSimon

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A schematic diagram of the NIST nanowire transistor.

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Instead of making transistor components and assembling them on a board, nanoscale transistors are grown together on a silicon wafer. They look much different from the traditional transistors.

cc by Ângelo Antônio Leithold

Photo by Intel

Nano Transistor

Transistors

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• The human brain has about 100 billion neurons.

• Each neuron has thousands of synapses.• The newest processors have only two billion

transistors.

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Because of nanotechnology, the speed of computers has increased while the price of computing has decreased.

cc by Ray Kurzweil

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Nanotechnology in Memory and Storage

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This is a 2 gigabyte hard drive. It weighs about 70 pounds. It was first used in the 1980s. Its cost at that time ranged from $80,000 to $140,000.

Image by HighPoint Learning10

2 GB in 1980s $80,000

2 GB in 1990s $200

2 GB in 2010 $5Image by HighPoint Learning

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Current research shows that by using nanotechnology, 1000 GB of memory can fit on the head of this pin. 1000 GB is 1 Terabyte.

Image by HighPoint Learning

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Nanotechnologyin Displays

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Nanotubes are small enough that they cannot be seen, so they can be great conductors to be used as transparent contacts.

cc by Georg Wiora

These layers contain transparent electrodes

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Carbon nanotubes on a glass or plastic sheet allow manufacturers to make clear conductive panels for displays that are extremely thin.

Image ©LG

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Image courtesy of Universal Display Corporation

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Nanotechnology in Circuitry

How do we see these circuits?

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To see the circuitry, researchers use an electron microscope or an atomic force microscope. This image shows different levels of a circuit.

Image courtesy Lucent Technologies.

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Screen Capture image of http://virtual.itg.uiuc.edu/

In the Nano Electronics Activity, you will download the virtual microscope from the University of Illinois website. It allows you to explore samples with an SEM and AFM.

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This is a scanning electron Microscope image of an accelerometer. You can use the controls to zoom in, pan, and take measurements.

Screen Capture image of Virtual Microscope Software

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Choose the integrated circuit. Change the color scheme to HSV. Use the scroll wheel on the mouse to zoom in and out. Toggle the AFM and draw a box on the chip to show the 3D view of that part of the circuit. Screen Capture image of Virtual Microscope Software

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Drag the scale tool in the locations on the chip to record the measurements.

Drag the height tool between locations on the chip to record the measurements.

Screen Capture image of Virtual Microscope Software 22

This module is one of a series designed to introduce faculty and high school students to the basic concepts of nanotechnology. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation, discussion questions,

and hands-on activities, when applicable.

The series was funded in part by:

The National Science FoundationGrant DUE-0702976

and the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the

author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative.

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Image Credits Flexible organic light emitting display (FOLEDTM) developed by Universal Display Corporation (UDC). Image courtesy of Universal Display Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/ma0303_images.htm

Kurzweil, Ray (Designer). Moore's Law, The Fifth Paradigm. [Diagram]. Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org)

Leithold , Ângelo Antônio (Photographer). Transistor.jpg [ditigal image} Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org)

Wiora, Georg (Designer). LCD-Layers.svg [Digital Image] Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org)

WGSimon (Designer), Transistor Count and Moore's Law - 2008.svg [Digital Image], Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org)

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References New Design Developed for Silicon Nanowire Transistors. (2005) NIST Tech Beat. Retrieved from http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2005_0630.htm

Nelson, Max, and Shipbaugh, Calvin. (1995) The Potential of Nanotechnology for Molecular Manufacturing. [Kindle Edition]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

The Transistor Turns 60. (2007) CNET News. Retrieved from http://news.cnet.com/2300-1006_3- 6222749.html?tag=mncol

Wilson, Michael, Kanangara, Kamali, Smith, Geoff, Simmons, Michelle, & Raguse, Burkhard. Nanotechnology: Basic Science and Emerging Technologies. (2004). [Kindle Edition] Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

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