Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Next-Generation Computing Hardware: Advancements In Tantalum Oxide Reram For Ai And Neuromorphic Applications, Rajas Ravindra Mathkari

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The rapid development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-intensive computing has exposed the fundamental limitations of conventional von Neumann architectures, in which energy and time are continuously lost transferring data between physically separate memory and processing units. In contrast, the human brain performs complex computations directly at the point of memory storage through billions of parallel synaptic connections, a paradigm known as in-memory computing. Realizing this in hardware requires memory devices that are fast, energy-efficient, non-volatile, and capable of storing multiple resistance levels in an analog manner. Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM) based on tantalum oxide (TaOx) is one …

Scalable Single-Erbium Telecom Qudits With Record Room-Temperature Quantum Coherence In Silicon-Based Nanostructures, Alexander Kaloyeros

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Advancing quantum information science demands solid-state quantum systems that maintain long quantum coherence at elevated temperatures while supporting scalable, CMOS-compatible fabrication and telecom C-band operation. No existing platform has simultaneously achieved these requirements, as state-of-the-art demonstrations of coherent control of erbium ions, with an intrinsic telecom-band optical transition, have been confined to cryogenic temperatures below < 10 K under controlled vacuum conditions. This thesis introduces a new paradigm in which materials science and engineering provides the enabling pathway to quantum coherence.

A foundry-compatible nanofabrication approach, paired with targeted materials engineering, is developed to realize a new class of CMOS-scalable quantum system: arrays of spatially isolated single-erbium-ion qudits (five-level systems) embedded in silicon-based (e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) and SiC_xO_y) hollow nanopillars (HNPs). Non-lithographically …

Development And Analysis Of An Embedded Hardware Platform For Low-Power Rram–Based In-Memory Computing And Neural Network Applications, Jeelka Solanki

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Conventional computing architectures are based on repeated data transfer between memory and the compute unit; however, artificial neural network applications rely on data-intensive vector-matrix multiplication as a mathematical operation, where data movement from memory to compute processor results in increased power consumption and reduced performance. Possible solutions to this problem include in-memory computing, which addresses the data transfer bottleneck by computing directly within the memory. To demonstrate the potential of this approach, our research group fabricated hafnium oxide-based resistive random-access memory (RRAM) arrays using a 65nm CMOS technology for in-memory compute operations. This work demonstrates the design and development of …

High-Tcr Multivalence Vanadium Oxide Thin-Films From Deposition Parameter Control To Microbolometer Applications, Latika Susheel M. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This thesis details the development of multivalence-nanostructured vanadium oxide (VOₓ) thin films for uncooled microbolometer applications, with a systematic optimization of magnetron-sputtering parameters. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), resistivity, and optical response of VOₓ thin-film sensing layers are controlled by valence composition, grain growth, and surface morphology. The primary goal was to achieve a high TCR with low resistivity to improve thermal detector performance.

Multivalent VOₓ thin films were deposited on silicon, SiO₂, and glass substrates using DC magnetron sputtering. Three key parameters were systematically varied: Ar:O₂ ratio (18:2 to 15:5), deposition time (60–120 minutes), and DC power (300W …

Effect Of Molybdenum Content On The Microstructure And Tribological Properties Of Ti-Nb-Cu Alloys Produced By Lpbf Additive Manufacturing, Lei Qin, Shengfeng Zhou, Jianbo Jin, Huan Yang, Kunmao Li, Cheng Deng, Yujie Yuan, Seyed Reza Elmi Hosseini, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Obtaining excellent wear resistance is critical for titanium alloys used as orthopedic implants. In this study, the β-type Ti-35Nb-5Cu- x Mo alloys (Ti355 x , x = 0, 1, 2, and 4 wt%) were fabricated by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method. In the meantime, the influence mechanism of Mo content on the microstructure and tribological properties was systematically investigated. The results show that all the LPBF-produced Ti355 x alloys exhibit a bimodal columnar-equiaxed grain structure, with Mo refining columnar grains and suppressing the α″ phase formation. Moreover, increasing the Mo content reduced the relative density, while enhancing the …

Machine-Learning-Guided Design Of A Biomedical High-Entropy Alloy For Additive Manufacturing: Cast-State Benchmark And Preliminary Lpbf Feasibility Assessment, Deyu Jiang, Lai Chang Zhang, Kuaishe Wang, Wen Wang, Chenyuan Zhu, Yuanfei Fu, Kai Wang, Wei Zhai, Ching Chiuan Yen, Weijie Lu, Di Zhang, Liqiang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Additive manufacturing of biomedical high-entropy alloys (BioHEAs) demands a combination of low elastic modulus, high strength, and damage tolerance, yet composition discovery remains largely empirical. Here, we establish a machine-learning framework that couples virtual screening with physical prototyping to link composition, deformation mechanism, and properties. Ensemble models for strength, elongation, and modulus were applied to screen Ti–Zr–Nb–Ta–Mo-centered quinary-to-septenary spaces (∼15 million compositions), revealing discrete performance islands anchored by a Ti–Zr backbone. A Zr-rich BCC alloy (Zr₃₉.₃Ti₁₉.₅Nb₁₇.₉Ta₁₆.₈Mo₆.₅) was identified and validated. In the as-cast state, it delivers ∼1.0 GPa yield strength, 22.3% elongation, and an 88 GPa elastic modulus; ductility originates …

Investigation Of Fine-Grain Cu And Cu Alloys For Low-Temperature Hybrid Bonding Applications, Sarabjot Singh

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Hybrid bonding has emerged as a key enabler for next-generation three-dimensional (3D) integration, offering fine-pitch interconnects and improved electrical performance. However, conventional Cu–Cu hybrid bonding typically requires elevated temperatures to achieve sufficient diffusion and interface quality, posing challenges for temperature-sensitive device integration and process compatibility. This work investigates materials engineering approaches to enable low-temperature Cu–Cu bonding through both microstructure design and alloying strategies.

This work begins by examining grain refinement in Cu as a pathway to enhance diffusion through increased grain boundary density, providing efficient atomic transport without introducing additional elements. Three Cu-based systems Cu–Co, Cu–Ag, and Cu–Al were systematically …

Molecular Diffusion In Chemically Amplified Resists For Euv Lithography, Eshan Dilina Thilakarathna

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Photolithography is a critical manufacturing step in high-volume manufacturing (HVM) of semiconductor devices, where a photoresist layer is used to transfer nanoscale patterns onto the underlying stack materials. As the microelectronics industry continues to move toward smaller node sizes, driven by Moore's Law. As a result, the tolerances for photoresist performance have become increasingly demanding, which necessitates simultaneous improvements in resolution, defectivity, and roughness. At advanced nodes, these performance limitations are governed by the fundamental stochastic nature of the photochemical processes occurring within the resist film itself, rather than the optical or tool-level constraints. Photon shot noise, the statistical distribution …

A Portable Potentiostat Integrated With A Pt/Zno/Lig Electrode For Non-Enzymatic Glucose Detection, Reagan Aviha, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Continuous glucose monitoring is critical for effective diabetes management; however, conventional benchtop potentiostats are bulky, costly, and unsuitable for decentralized point-of-care (PoC) applications. To address these limitations, this work presents a miniaturized, low-cost electrochemical sensing platform integrating a non-enzymatic glucose sensor with a portable potentiostat. The sensing electrode is based on laser-induced graphene modified with zinc oxide and platinum nanostructures via electrodeposition to enable sensitive glucose detection under physiological conditions. A custom-designed portable potentiostat was developed to control electrode potentials and perform electrochemical measurements, and its performance was experimentally validated against a commercial Metrohm system. Glucose detection was evaluated using …