Influence of AlGaN deep level defects on AlGaN/GaN 2-DEG carrierconfinement

We have used low energy electron-excited nanoscale luminescence spectroscopy (LEEN) to detect the defects in each layer of AlGaN/GaN HEMT device structures and to correlate their effect on two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) confinement. We investigated AlGaN/GaN heterostructures with different electrical properties using incident electron beam energies of 0.5 to 15 keV to probe electronic state transitions within each of the heterostructure layers. AlGaN heterostructures of 25 nm thickness and nominal 30% Al concentration grown on GaN buffer layers on sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy exhibited a range of polarization-induced electron densities and room temperature mobilities. In general, the spectra exhibit AlGaN band edge emission at ~3.8 eV or ~4.0 eV, GaN band edge emission at ~3.4 eV, yellow luminescence (YL) features at 2.18 eV and 2.34 eV, and a large emission in the infrared (<1.6 eV) from the GaN cap layer used to passivate the AlGaN outer surface. These heterostructures also show high strain in the 2 nm-thick GaN layer with evidence for a Franz-Keldysh red shift due to piezoelectric charging. The LEEN depth profiles reveal differences between the structures with and without 2-DEG confinement and highlight the importance of AlGaN defects in the near 2-DEG region     

Role of barrier and buffer layer defect states in AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures

We have used low energy electron-excited nanoscale luminescence spectroscopy (LEEN) to detect the defects in each layer of AlGaN/GaN HEMT device structures to correlate their effect on two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confinement. Also, we have used Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) to detect the chemical composition as a function of lateral position on a growth wafer and to correlate chemical effects with electronic properties. We investigated several high-quality AlGaN/GaN heterostructures of varying electrical properties using incident electron beam energies of 0.5–15 keV to probe electronic state transitions within each of the heterostructure layers. The LEEN depth profiles reveal differences between sucessful and failed structures and highlight the importance of acceptor deep defect levels in the near 2DEG region. Variations in the GaN and AlGaN band edge emissions, as well as the yellow defect emission across an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure growth wafer have been observed. AES and LEEN spectroscopy of the growth wafer suggest that variation in the cation concentration may play a role in the mechanism responsible for the deep aceceptor level emission in the AlGaN barrier layer.     

Flexible Inorganic Piezoelectric Acoustic Nanosensors for Biomimetic Artificial Hair Cells

For patients who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss by damaged or loss of hair cells in the cochlea, biomimetic artificial cochleas to remedy the dis­advantages of existing implant systems have been intensively studied. Here, a new concept of an inorganic‐based piezoelectric acoustic nanosensor (iPANS) for the purpose of a biomimetic artificial hair cell to mimic the functions of the original human hair cells is introduced. A trapezoidal silicone‐based membrane (SM) mimics the function of the natural basilar membrane for frequency selectivity, and a flexible iPANS is fabricated on the SM utilizing a laser lift‐off technology to overcome the brittle characteristics of inorganic piezoelectric materials. The vibration amplitude vs piezoelectric sensing signals are theoretically examined based on the experimental conditions by finite element analysis. The SM is successful at separating the audible frequency range of incoming sound, vibrating distinctively according to varying locations of different sound frequencies, thus allowing iPANS to convert tiny vibration displacement of ≈15 nm into an electrical sensing output of ≈55 μV, which is close to the simulation results presented. This conceptual iPANS of flexible inorganic piezoelectric materials sheds light on the new fields of nature‐inspired biomimetic systems using inherently high piezoelectric charge constants.     

Influence of Dendronization on Spectral Diffusion and Aggregation in Conjugated Polymers

Dendronization has previously been suggested as a means of controlling the level of intermolecular interactions in macromolecular and polymeric compounds. We therefore studied the spectral relaxation dynamics of dendronized and non‐dendronized polyfluorenes at different temperatures. Dendronization strongly affects inhomogeneous spectral broadening, resulting in a blue‐shift and broadening of the otherwise narrow vibronic progression of polyfluorene at low temperature. Using gated spectroscopy we are able to identify emissive keto defects on isolated chains of both dendronized and non‐dendronized polymers, along with a strong aggregation band in the solid state. Surprisingly, the emission from chemical and structural defects is found to be stronger in the case of the dendronized material. The observation of aggregate emission in dendronized polyfluorenes suggests that aggregation in these materials does not occur through linear π‐stacking, but rather through electronic interactions at point contacts between chains introduced by structural kinks along the backbone.     

人工神经网络和电阻抗谱法压电材料快速表征

压电材料作为重要的功能材料,广泛应用于社会的各领域,但其弹性常数的偏差会导致应用过程中出现错误的设计,弹性常数的正确表征对压电器件的正确设计尤为重要。与其他测量方法相比,电阻抗谱仅需要阻抗分析仪即可实现测量,通过测量阻抗谱反演获得压电材料的弹性常数。传统电阻抗谱法通过不断修正材料参数,使得测量阻抗谱和计算阻抗谱最大程度吻合,该过程需要多次迭代,计算量大,耗时较长。该文提出采用神经网络建立阻抗谱到弹性常数的正向模型,测量得到阻抗谱后仅需一次正向计算即可得到弹性常数。使用Comsol和Matlab联合仿真建立数据集,引入丢弃法避免模型过拟合,利用Pytorch建立模型,经过训练后,最大谐振频率偏差从初始2.8%降至0.8%。该技术为压电材料弹性常数精密测量提供可靠的理论与实践途径。     

基于二进制编码的管道缺陷超声检测方法研究

脉冲信号激励的超声波用于管道缺陷检测时,存在平均发射声功率小及探测信号频带单一的局限,且在多发多收的阵列检测场合,很难确定接收回波的发射源,不利于被测体全声场的声学特征参数解算。为此,提出了采用正弦波频率调制的二进制超声编码方法检测管道缺陷。建立传感器编码激励响应的数学模型,通过仿真得到了传感器在不同激励频率、分数带宽和码位数下的幅频响应规律,并实现了对接收信号的有效区分和发射声源的有效标识。将该方法用于管道缺陷的超声检测,实现了管道不同种类缺陷的有效检出和发射声源的有效标识,并分析了二进制编码激励方式下缺陷对不同频带的敏感性。统计结果表明,2~4位码对管道渗漏孔和裂纹缺陷的检出率高于62%,对回波信号的标识正确率高于97%。     

Nanoparticle Reshaping and Ion Migration in Nanocomposite Ultrafast Ionic Actuators: The Converse Piezo–Electro–Kinetic Effect

This article reports on the effect of silver nanoparticles (NPs), used as active fillers, on the piezoelectric response of polymer composites. In particular, it is demonstrated that the application of a periodic electric field drives a collective drift of surface atoms of the NPs along the field direction (“electrokinetic effect”) which, in turn, creates macroscopic reversible tensile states. Overdriving the system, in high‐field conditions, the electronic current is counterbalanced by a massive injection of Ag⁺ ions into the matrix, producing a metastable exceptional expansion of the device. For similitude with the converse piezoelectric effect, it has been called the converse piezo–electro–kinetic effect. By using in situ spectroscopy, vibrometric analysis, real‐time UV‐visible spectroscopy, in situ electrical transmission electron microscopy, and in qualitative form ab initio and finite element method numerical simulations, i) the injection of ions from the NPs to the matrix, ii) the surface migration‐induced NP reshaping, and iii) the NP migration and consequent percolation path adjustments are shown. The implications of this study are significant for the development of ultrafast soft ionic actuators and create the premises for a broad range of applications in smart materials and devices.     

Improved electrical stability and UV emission of zinc oxide thin films prepared by combination of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique and post-deposition hydrogen doping

Fourier transform infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopy provide strong evidence that post-deposition hydrogen doping of polycrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films improves the resistivity by increasing hydrogen-related shallow donors and hydrogen passivation of native defects. Improvement of the electrical stability and UV emission confirm that post-deposition hydrogen doping is a promising method to achieve high quality ZnO thin films for the use as transparent electrodes and/or UV light emitters in thin-film-based optoelectronic devices.     

适用SAW器件的ZnO/Ti/Si薄膜制备及缺陷分析

在Si(100)衬底和Ti/Si(100)衬底上分别制备了ZnO薄膜,探讨了Ti缓冲层对ZnO薄膜结构和缺陷的影响,利用X射线衍射(XRD)测试了ZnO薄膜的晶体结构及择优取向,利用原子力显微镜(AFM)观察ZnO薄膜的表面粗糙度(RMS),利用光致发光(PL)光谱检测了ZnO薄膜的缺陷,利用四探针法测试了ZnO薄膜的电阻率。结果表明,在Ti/Si(100)衬底上、衬底温度350℃的条件下,制备的ZnO薄膜表面光滑、缺陷少、电阻率高且具有高C轴取向。本文这一工作对于压电薄膜缺陷分析及高性能ZnO的声表面波(SAW)器件研制有重要意义。     

GaN HEMT reliability

This paper reviews the experimental evidence behind a new failure mechanism recently identified in GaN high-electron mobility transistors subject to electrical stress. Under high voltage, it has been found that electrically active defects are generated in the AlGaN barrier or at its surface in the vicinity of the gate edge. These defects reduce the drain current, increase the parasitic resistance and provide a path for excess gate current. There is mounting evidence for the role of the inverse piezoelectric effect in introducing mechanical stress in the AlGaN barrier layer and eventually producing these defects. The key signature of this mechanism is a sudden and non-reversible increase in the gate leakage current of several orders of magnitude. This degradation mechanism is voltage driven and characterized by a critical voltage below which degradation does not occur. This hypothesis suggests several paths to enhance the electrical reliability of GaN HEMTs which are borne out by experiments.     

一种声学发射换能器的实验研究

采用有强磁化特性的磁性液体作为换能器中制动元件,实验建立一个交变的梯度磁场作用于磁性液体,通过压电陶瓷换能器检测到磁性液体振动而产生的声波,发现磁性液体在交变梯度磁场作用下有磁致伸缩效应。导出了磁性液体振动特性的动力学一般方程,揭示了交变的梯度磁场作用引起了交变的磁性液体的内压强,从而引起磁性液体的体积发生伸缩,产生机械振动,激励空气产生声波的机理。以磁性液体为制动元件可以研制较理想的大功率低频宽带声学发射换能器。     

Piezoelectric energy harvesting from vibrations induced by jet-resonator system

Inspired by musical instruments that create high amplitude tones corresponding to resonator acoustic modes when subjected to airflow, a new piezoelectric energy harvester for powering the electronic system of aircrafts is developed. It converts the incoming airflow energy into electricity via a piezoelectric transducer during the flight. With the airflow simulated by an air cylinder, prototypes of the developed energy harvester are fabricated and tested. Experimental results show that the curve of sound pressure, corresponding to the first resonator acoustic mode, is a regular sinusoidal pattern. Within the study range of airflow velocity, a linear relationship can be found not only between sound pressure and airflow velocity but also between open circuit voltage and airflow velocity. A power of above 85 mW is released on a passive electric load of 3 kΩ by using a single piezoelectric element of 10 mm diameter at relative airflow velocity of 159 m/s. And the maximum total energy conversion efficiency of the piezoelectric energy harvester is about 1.2‰. It has laid a solid foundation for powering sensors or other devices, thus eliminating a need for batteries.     

铜 压电陶瓷复合型悬臂压电振子发电性能分析

利用压电振子采集环境振动能量为低功耗电子产品供能是近年来研究的热点,而压电振子的振动发电能力与其几何形状有关。该文针对悬臂梁压电振子,利用ANSYS软件仿真分析了其自由端尺寸的改变对压电振子的输出电压及固有频率的影响。结果表明,在相同条件下,存在一定的自由端尺寸使压电振子采集环境中低频振动的能量最大。     

Scanning transmission electron microscopy and its application to the study of nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques can provide imaging, diffraction and spectroscopic information, either simultaneously or in a serial manner, of the specimen with an atomic or a sub-nanometer spatial resolution. High-resolution STEM imaging, when combined with nanodiffraction, atomic resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy and nanometer resolution X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques, is critical to the fundamental studies of importance to nanoscience and nanotechnology. The availability of sub-nanometer or sub-angstrom electron probes in a STEM instrument, due to the use of a field emission gun and aberration correctors, ensures the greatest capabilities for studies of sizes, shapes, defects, crystal and surface structures, and compositions and electronic states of nanometer-size regions of thin films, nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems. The various imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy modes available in a dedicated STEM or a field emission TEM/STEM instrument are reviewed and the application of these techniques to the study of nanoparticles and nanostructured catalysts is used as an example to illustrate the critical role of the various STEM techniques in nanotechnology and nanoscience research.     

直管谐振式低频压电声能量回收系统

为了高效回收环境中的声能,基于阵列式压电换能器、直管谐振腔以及能量回收电路提出了一种声能量回收系统.当声波进入直管谐振腔,管中产生谐振驻波作用于压电换能器,将声能转换为电能.本文设计了能量回收电路并且进行理论、仿真分析实验研究了压电振子数量、声波频率、声压级对输出电压的影响,分析了负载电阻对输出电压及功率的影响.实验结果表明,该装置可回收不同频率的声能量,在声波频率为96Hz时发电效果最优.当入射声压级为110dB时,不使用能量回收电路,输出交流电压有效值最高达12.9V,输出交流功率最高达到799μW;使用设计的能量回收电路,最高输出直流电压为64.2V,最高输出直流功率为473μW.该声能量回收系统不仅可以作为声能量采集器,还能对无线传感节点等独立工作的微型电子系统供能.     

On the Origin of Green Emission Bands in Fluorene‐Based Conjugated Polymers

Blue‐light‐emitting diodes made of polyfluorenes have low stability and, under operation, rapidly degrade and produce undesirable low‐energy emission bands (green or g‐bands). A spectroelectrochemical study of the degradation process suffered by polyfluorenes is reported here. These polymers lose their electronic properties by electrochemical oxidation and reduction through σ‐bond breaking. In addition, upon electrochemical reduction, the development of a structured green emission band at 485 nm is observed. The position and shape of this band is different from the usual featureless band at 535 nm assigned to fluorenone defects. The green‐light‐emitting product is isolated and analyzed by Fourier‐transform IR spectroscopy; fluorenone formation is excluded. The isolated product is crosslinked; its green emission is probably related to the formation of an intramolecular excimer.     

六方氮化硼薄膜制备及其压电响应的研究

采用射频(RF)磁控溅射的方法,通过改变工艺参数在n型Si(100)片上制备六方氮化硼(h-BN)薄膜。通过傅立叶红外(FTIR)光谱仪,X射线衍射(XRD)仪进行结构表征,原子力显微镜(AFM)进行表面形貌和压电性能表征。测试结果表明,在射频功率为300 W、衬底温度为500℃、工作压强在0.8Pa、N2与Ar流量比为4∶20和衬底偏压在-200V时制备的六方BN薄膜具有高纯度、高c-轴择优取向,颗粒均匀致密,粗糙度为2.26nm,具有压电性并且压电响应均匀,符合高频声表面波器件基片高声速、优压电性要求。薄膜压电性测试研究表明,AFM的PFM测试方法适用于纳米结构半导体薄膜的压电性及其压电响应分布特性的表征。     

压电式空气补气阀技术研究及应用

介绍了一种基于压电双晶片的空气补气阀(ACV)。该压电阀安装于摩托车化油器怠速补气通道,通过现场传感器信号的采集,根据控制策略,利用压电阀的流量特性,实施脉冲宽度调制(PWM)驱动控制,达到国Ⅲ排放要求。该文通过对逆向压电效应、压电方程的理论分析,依据实际的双晶片尺寸,得出空气补气阀的实际位移和力矩,并通过实际的测试,发现在100V、15Hz的PWM控制波形驱动下,该压电补气阀呈现出了良好的稳定性和一致性,满足了电控化油器中对怠速智能补气的需求。     

音叉式石英晶振谐振频率的非电学快速测量方法

设计了声激励和光激励两种非电学快速测量音叉式石英晶振谐振频率的方法。不同于传统的电激励测量法,在外部激励源激发音叉振动同时,使用一束探测光把音叉振臂的振动信号转化成光强变化信号,从而避免了在测量中压电效应的使用。在声激励实验中,对比了不同的声波发生器和有无导声管的激励效果,优化了声波激发位置;在光激励实验中,研究优化了光束激发的位置。     

Piezoelectric Nylon-11 Fibers for Electronic Textiles,Energy Harvesting and Sensing

Electronic textiles and functional fabrics are among the key constituents envisioned for wearable electronics applications. For e-textiles, the challenge is to process materials of desired electronic properties such as piezoelectricity into fibers to be integrated as wefts or wraps in the fabrics. Nylons, first introduced in the 1940s for stockings, are among the most widely used synthetic fibers in textiles. However, realization of nylon-based e-textiles has remained elusive due to the difficulty of achieving the piezoelectric phase in the nylon fibers. Here, piezoelectric nylon-11 fibers are demonstrated and it is shown that the resulting fibers are viable for applications in energy harvesting from low frequency mechanical vibrations and in motion sensors. A simulation study is presented that elucidates on the sensitivity of the nylon-11 fibers toward external mechanical stimuli. Moreover, a strategy is proposed and validated to significantly boost the electrical performance of the fibers. Since a large fraction of the textile industry is based on nylon fibers, the demonstration of piezoelectric nylon fibers will be a major step toward realization of electronic textiles for applications in apparels, health monitoring, sportswear, and portable energy generation.