Self-Assembled Quantum Nanostructures

Utah State University
posted on 08/27/2008

As electronic devices continue to shrink, the costs of traditional lithography methods continue to grow. The current global market for nanoparticles used in various applications has grown to over $500 million, and is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2012. Researchers at Utah State University have developed a method for creating Self-Assembled Quantum Nanostructures (SAQN), a technology that could be the answer to creating smaller devices at lower costs.

Suggested Uses

• Electronics
• Telecommunications
• Nano IR detectors for temperature sensors
• Photonics, lasers, photodiodes, solar cells

Advantages

• Various materials (InAs, GaAs, InP, metals, etc.) can be deposited for specific desired properties
• Feature dimensions, periodicity, and uniformity can be controlled on a nanoscale level for improved device performance
• Different self-assembled quantum nanostructures (nanodots, nanowires, 3D crystals, grids, etc.) can be created and tailored for specific devices

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

The process begins with the epitaxial deposition of a layer of material. A laser interference pattern is directed onto the deposited material to induce nanoheating. This results in SAQN at the maxima of the laser interference pattern. Process parameters can be adjusted to control the size features of the SAQN, as well as to create different nanostructures such as nanodots, nanowires, 3D crystals, grids, etc.

File Number: W04017

Web site: http://tco.usu.edu/

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