San Jose State University Nanoscale Materials and Device Characterization Program

1. San Jose State University Nanoscale Materials and Device Characterization Program Defense Microelectronics Activity Research ReviewTask Quad ChartsDMEA Co-operative Agreement #H94003-06-2-0605 March 14, 2007 PI: Emily L. Allen emily.allen@sjsu.edu

2. Task 1a:Metal Impregnated SWNTS forToxic Gas Contaminant Control A.M. Hannon and M. McNeil, San José State UniversityJ. Li, NASA Ames Research Center amhannon@gmail.com Objectives • Develop an efficient method for the • control and elimination of nitric oxide. • Use nanotechnology to achieve low • temperature conversion. Status Approach • Rh-impregnated SWNTs were • developed and characterized by SEM, • TEM and TGA. • Utilized Rh-impregnated SWNTs as • catalyst for nitric oxide conversion. • Determine correlation • between surface area, pore distribution • and catalyst activity. • Develop process for catalyst impregnation of purified SWNTs. • Utilize metal impregnated • SWNTs as the catalyst for nitric oxide • conversion. • Higher surface area and strength should allow better conversion than typical activated carbon supported catalyst.

3. Task 1b.1: Synthesis of nanowires by templated sol-gel growth P. L. Tan, E.L. Allen, San José State UniversityG. Dholakia, NASA Ames Research Center seal_cove@sbcglobal.com Objectives • Synthesis of ferromagnetic and semiconducting nanowires by sol-gel technique • Fabrication of alumina template • Characterization by SEM, EDX, XRD, XPS. Status Approach • Synthesized and characterized nickel (II) oxide nanowires • Synthesized templates with pore diameters between 40-80 nm • In process of synthesizing SiC nanowires, but ran into obstacles separating wires from template. • Next steps: Solve SiC problem, produce nanowires using synthesized template and synthesize hematite nanowires • Synthesis using template-directed sol-gel procedure. • Risks include sol-gel interaction with template and possible inapplicability of method to annealing conditions

4. Task 1B.2 Electronic studies of nanowires S. Kuo, E. Allen, San Jose State UniversityG. Dholakia, NASA Ames Research Center skuo@mail.arc.nasa.gov Objectives • Fabrication of device structures for resistivity measurements • Electronic characterization of I-V behavior Approach Status • Successful alignment of nanowires by e-field manipulation • Cryocooler operational however possible contact issues • FIB prototype completed • Current device design needs to be altered for 4 probe measurements • Next step: • Develop new device structure • Refine FIB technique • E-field manipulation and alignment of nanowires • Interdigitated device structures for alignment and I-V measurement • Cryocooler for temperature dependent I-V measurement • Focused ion beam (FIB) for rapid processing of electrical contacts

5. Task 2a. Self-Assembled Monolayers for Molecular Devices J. Y. Park, E. L. Allen, San José State UniversityC. Scott, S. Swanson, IBM Almaden Research Center jinyunpark@gmail.com Objectives • Obtain I-V responses from phenyl diisocyanides PDI, BPDI, and TPDI • Determine the conduction mechanism, conductivity, and current density from data collected Approach Status • Fabricate device structure based on work by Akkerman et al. • Self-Assembled Monolayer of phenyl diisocyanides may be suitable as molecular interconnects • All processing steps and parameters have been developed • Shadow mask for top contact layer needs re-design • Next steps: I-V testing of PEDOT/PSS layer, octane dithiol, PDI, BPDI, and TPDI

6. Task 2b: Characterization of Sub-lithographic Line Patterns from Block Copolymer Self-assembly Using X-ray Reflectivity L. Wang, W.R. Chung San José State UniversityH-C. Kim, IBM Almaden Research Center lwang1@email.sjsu.edu Objectives • Produce organic and inorganic thin films containing nanoscopic lithographic line patterns on silicon surfaces and characterization by AFM and SEM • Setup X-Ray Reflectivity and test patterned samples Approach Status • Spin coat organosilicates on silicon wafers under controlled environment using toluene vapor. • Use AFM and SEM to investigate the characteristics of the line patterns • Use X-Ray Reflectivity to determine thickness of the pattern • The project has met first and second milestones • More samples will be tested in the coming weeks • The third and fourth milestones involving data reduction and fitting can be performed concurrently

7. Task 2c. Use of Surface Plasmon Resonance to Build Layers of Star PolymersC.S. Bonifacio, M. McNeil, R. Terrill, San Jose State University J. Sly, R. Miller, IBM Almaden Research Center ces_bonifacio@yahoo.com Objectives • Determine self assembled coverage of star polymers • Upgrade SPR set-up with a fluidics injection system • Investigate the SPR detector’s capabilities by reproducing other research group’s results Approach • Use SPR, which is a sensitive, real-time and tag-less detection for the novel application of detecting self assembled layer by layer star polymers Status • SPR set-up is optimized • Peak broadening was solved • Challenges: Discovered negative solvent effects on self assembly which hasn’t been resolved • Next step: Determine coverage of layer by layer self-assembly of star polymers with different functionalities

8. Task 3. Nanoscale Characterization of Surface Modified Microchannels M. Vijay, E.M.Ghandehari, S.J. Lee, San José State University Ehsan.mohebban@gmail.com Objectives • Develop process engineering techniques for microchannel fabrication with applications in BioMEMS • Investigate surface roughening and its characterization methods on polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), a new candidate material, for microfluidic chip applications Laser ablated microchannel Microfluidic Chip Approach Status • Conventional soft lithography insufficient for molding PMHS on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds. • Optimizing Laser Direct Write for microchannel fabrication. • Surface roughening by Abrasive Microblasting and laser ablation under investigation. • Next step: Quantify benefit of plasma treatment and wet chemical etching for surface roughness • Use Laser Direct Write for fabricating microchannel features as well as roughening the channel walls • Characterize mechanical properties (e.g. hardness) by nanoindenter • Characterize optical transmission by spectrophotometer

9. Task 4. MonodisperseMagnetic Hard Phase FePt Nanoparticles A. Singh, N. Pirakh, G.L. Young, San José State Universityglyoung@email.sjsu.edu Objectives • TEM Image, XRD Spectrum, M vs. H • Synthesis of FCT FePt nano-particles • Structural characterization by XRD, TEM • Magnetic characterization by VSM • Verification by Mössbauer spectroscopy Approach Status • High temperature reduction of metal salts: FeCl2*4H2O and Pt(acac)2 • Control composition via reagent molar ratios. • Synthesized FePt nano-particles • Verified FePt is FCC with XRD • Initial size characterization completed • Improving techniques for XRD and VSM measurements