Electronics

Latest Innovations
Polarization Dependent Damage-Free Laser-Assisted Plasma Etching Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This... Read More Drs. David Ruzic and Jason Peck from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new plasma etching process assisted by a polarized pulsed laser. This technology addresses the need of damageless, anisotropic etching for features of 100 nm or less. It is the only known process to etch 3D structures in integrated circuits which lie along one direction, and not etch those that are perpendicular. It will enable making integrated circuits with smaller feature sizes.
Nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit Dr. Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit. The invention allows light to travel only in one... Read More Dr. Gaurav Bahl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a nanophotonic non-reciprocal circuit. The invention allows light to travel only in one direction and has great application potential in atomic clocks, gravimetry and optical isolators. This is the first time that any circuit that has been able to operate in the GHz region.
Flat panel display with increased clarity Dr. Paul Braun from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new design architecture for backlit LCDs.... Read More Dr. Paul Braun from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a new design architecture for backlit LCDs.
Magnetically Responsive Micro-structured Surfaces Dr. Seok Kim from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a versatile surface material that will serve as a general-purpose platform for fluid and... Read More Dr. Seok Kim from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a versatile surface material that will serve as a general-purpose platform for fluid and light manipulations for micro and macroscale. Potential applications include: digital microfluidics, biomedical devices, virtual blinds, camouflage surfaces, and micromirror arrays. Compared to similar surfaces, this responsive surface consists of micropillars integrated with large area platelets, which increases the areal fraction of opaque regions on the surface and increases the tuning range of transmittance. It does not require heating to create a vapor layer, and allows the use of soft, ferromagnetic micropillars and offers a more efficient assembly process than prior works. Lastly, it allowed control over the final configuration of the platelets, either in-plane or out-of-plane configurations, for the very first time.
Volumetric Optical Integrated Circuit Elements (V.O.I.C.E.) This technology enables the fabrication of multiple plans of interconnected passive photonic devices with the volume of a silicon wafer. The fabrication technique uses... Read More This technology enables the fabrication of multiple plans of interconnected passive photonic devices with the volume of a silicon wafer. The fabrication technique uses porous silicon as a scaffold for photoresist in a direct laser write process to make graded index (GRIN) optics and photonic elements. This technology has the potential to dramatically improve the speed, density, and energy efficiency in applications like telecommunications, computing, data storage and transfer and consumer electronics.
Low Quantum Defect Fiber Lasers via Yb-Doped Multicomponent Fluorosilicate Optical Fiber Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a low-quantum defect fiber-based laser. This invention assists with the management of... Read More Dr. Dragic from the University of IL has developed a low-quantum defect fiber-based laser. This invention assists with the management of thermal energy (quantum defect heating) which can lead to failure of an optical fiber when power scaling fiber-based lasers. A Yb-doped multicomponent flurosilicate optical fiber reduces quantum defect heating in the fiber-based laser. Fiber-based lasers have applications in the automotive, medical, and electronics industries.
Frequency Independent Framework for Synthesis of Programmable Non-reciprocal Network Dr. Songbin Gong and his group from the University of Illinois have developed a framework for synthesizing frequency-independent multi-port nonreciprocal networks. The... Read More Dr. Songbin Gong and his group from the University of Illinois have developed a framework for synthesizing frequency-independent multi-port nonreciprocal networks. The framework is highly expandable, can have an arbitrary number of ports while simultaneously sustaining balanced performance, and provide unprecedented programmability of non-reciprocity. Unlike the conventional approaches, non-reciprocal performance of the network is only dependent of the time delays, instead of phase delays, and therefore is frequency independent. This technology could inspire new ways of implementing multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication systems. 4-port switch module prototype
Graphene Classifier This technology is a classifier based on a ferroelectric graphene transistor. In contrast to traditional current-mode classifiers based on CMOS technologies (which require... Read More This technology is a classifier based on a ferroelectric graphene transistor. In contrast to traditional current-mode classifiers based on CMOS technologies (which require 23 transistors per pixel), this classifier requires only one transistor per pixel. The device provides a new solution for image recognition with reduced circuit complexity, enhanced energy efficiency, and faster processing speed. Applications include signal or image processing and recognition.
Scalable and Cost-effective Method to Fabricate Quantum Dot Films Dr. Seok Kim and Dr. Moonsub Shim from the University of Illinois have developed dry means to pattern QD films over large areas with high resolution while maintaining... Read More Dr. Seok Kim and Dr. Moonsub Shim from the University of Illinois have developed dry means to pattern QD films over large areas with high resolution while maintaining desired properties. This method avoids standard solution based processing and microfabrication methods which are chemically incompatible with quantum dots. Their method of transfer printing is a scalable and cost-effective approach to manufacturing the next generation of QD lighting, display, and photovoltaic technology. Photoluminescence (PL) images of patterned QD films on ODTS coated Si substrates. (a) Red, green, and blue (RGB) QD films patterned in circle, triangle, and star shapes. (b) RGB QD square arrays. (c) Red QD film patterned into ‘UIUC’. All scale bars are 50 microns. (d) PL spectra of patterned RGB QD films.
Device for the Combination of Semiconductor Processes Professor Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed a device that leverages the recent development of efficient, flat vacuum ultraviolet/ultraviolet lamps to... Read More Professor Gary Eden from the University of Illinois has developed a device that leverages the recent development of efficient, flat vacuum ultraviolet/ultraviolet lamps to perform two or more semiconductor fabrication processes in the same chamber. This invention is expected to significantly lower the cost of manufacturing electronic devices. This invention also introduces a new photolithography process that does not require chemical processing of a photoresist in a separate tool or by wet chemical processing. This process alone will lower the cost of photolithography and make sub-200 nm resolution photolithography accessible to a broader community of users. Fig: SEMS of patterns formed in acrylic films by irradiating the films through a photomask with a 172 nm flat lamp