Science and Technology of High Dielectric Constant Thin Films and Materials Integration for Application to High Frequency Devices

Thin films of Ba_1?x Sr _x Ti_1+y O_3+z (BST), were fabricated using both by RF-magnetron sputtering and MOCVD to demonstrate application to high frequency devices. Precise control of composition and microstructure is critical for the production of (Ba _x Sr_1?x )Ti_1+y O_3+z (BST) dielectric thin films with the large dependence of permittivity on electric field, low losses, and high electrical breakdown fields that are required for successful integration of BST into tunable high frequency devices. Here we review results on composition-microstructure-electrical property relationships of polycrystalline BST films produced by magnetron sputter deposition that are appropriate for microwave devices such as phase shifters. BST films with a multilayer structure were also developed with different Ti-elemental ratio in each layer to minimize losses and leakage current. Interfacial contamination from C and H species was studied and implications on electrical properties are highlighted. Finally, York's group at the University of California-Santa Barbara successfully integrated our BST films onto phase shifter arrays. The results show potential of BST films in such applications. Results from initial work on the integration of Cu-electrodes with BST films are also presented.     

Study on residual stress in viscoelastic thin film using curvature measurement method

Using LSM (laser scanning method), the radius of curvature due to thermal deformation in polyimide film coated on Si substrate is measured. Since the polyimide film shows viscoelastic behavior, i.e., the modulus and deformation of the film vary with time and temperature, we estimate the relaxation modulus and the residual stresses of the polyimide film by measuring the radius of curvature and subsequently by performing viscoelastic analysis. The residual stresses relax by an amount of 10% at 100°C and 20% at 150°C for two hours.     

Electron energy loss spectroscopy for analysis of inhaled ultrafine particles in rat lungs

Epidemiologic studies have associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with ambient particulate air pollution. Particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter (ultrafine particles) are present in the urban atmosphere in very high numbers yet at very low mass concentration. Organs beyond the lungs are considered as targets for inhaled ultrafine particles, whereby the route of particle translocation deeper into the lungs is unclear. Five rats were exposed to aerosols of ultrafine titanium dioxide particles of a count median diameter of 22 nm (geometric standard deviation, GSD 1.7) for 1 hour. The lungs were fixed by intravascular perfusion of fixatives immediately thereafter. TiO(2) particles in probes of the aerosol as well as in systematic tissue samples were analyzed with a LEO 912 transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy filter for elemental microanalysis. The characteristic energy loss spectra were obtained by fast spectrum acquisition. Aerosol particles as well as those in the lung tissue were unambiguously identified by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Particles were mainly found as small clusters with a rounded shape. Seven percent of the particles in the lung tissue had a needle-like shape. The size distribution of the cluster profiles in the tissue had a count median diameter of 29 nm (GSD 1.7), which indicates no severe clustering or reshaping of the originally inhaled particles. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and related analytical methods were found to be suitable to identify and localize ultrafine titanium dioxide particles within chemically fixed and resin-embedded lung tissue.     

Improvement in transdermal drug delivery performance by graphite oxide/temperature-responsive hydrogel composites with micro heater

Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) was prepared with temperature-responsive hydrogel. The graphite was oxidized and incorporated into hydrogel matrix to improve the thermal response of hydrogel. The micro heater was fabricated to control the temperature precisely by adopting a joule heating method. The drug in hydrogel was delivered through a hairless mouse skin by controlling temperature. The efficiency of drug delivery was improved obviously by incorporation of graphite oxide due to the excellent thermal conductivity and the increased interfacial affinity between graphite oxide and hydrogel matrix. The fabricated micro heater was effective in controlling the temperature over lower critical solution temperature of hydrogel precisely with a small voltage less than 1 V. The cell viability test on graphite oxide composite hydrogel showed enough safety for using as a transdermal drug delivery patch. The performance of TDDS could be improved noticeably based on temperature-responsive hydrogel, thermally conductive graphite oxide, and efficient micro heater.     

Homogeneous 2D MoTe2 p–n Junctions and CMOS Inverters formed by Atomic‐Layer‐Deposition‐Induced Doping

Recently, α‐MoTe₂, a 2D transition‐metal dichalcogenide (TMD), has shown outstanding properties, aiming at future electronic devices. Such TMD structures without surface dangling bonds make the 2D α‐MoTe₂ a more favorable candidate than conventional 3D Si on the scale of a few nanometers. The bandgap of thin α‐MoTe₂ appears close to that of Si and is quite smaller than those of other typical TMD semiconductors. Even though there have been a few attempts to control the charge‐carrier polarity of MoTe₂, functional devices such as p–n junction or complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) inverters have not been reported. Here, we demonstrate a 2D CMOS inverter and p–n junction diode in a single α‐MoTe₂ nanosheet by a straightforward selective doping technique. In a single α‐MoTe₂ flake, an initially p‐doped channel is selectively converted to an n‐doped region with high electron mobility of 18 cm² V^?1 s^?1 by atomic‐layer‐deposition‐induced H‐doping. The ultrathin CMOS inverter exhibits a high DC voltage gain of 29, an AC gain of 18 at 1 kHz, and a low static power consumption of a few nanowatts. The results show a great potential of α‐MoTe₂ for future electronic devices based on 2D semiconducting materials.     

Pixel‐Structured Scintillator with Polymeric Microstructures for X‐Ray Image Sensors

We introduce a pixel‐structured scintillator realized on a flexible polymeric substrate and demonstrate its feasibility as an X‐ray converter when it is coupled to photosensitive elements. The sample was prepared by filling Gd₂O₂S:Tb scintillation material into a square‐pore‐shape cavity array fabricated with polyethylene. For comparison, a sample with the conventional continuous geometry was also prepared. Although the pixelated geometry showed X‐ray sensitivity of about 58% compared with the conventional geometry, the resolving power was improved by about 70% above a spatial frequency of 3 mm^?1. The spatial frequency at 10% of the modulation‐transfer function was about 6 mm^?1.     

Long-lasting photoluminescence quantum yield of cesium lead halide perovskite-type quantum dots

Cesium lead halide perovskite(CsPbX₃,X=Cl,Br,I)quantum dots(QDs)and their partly Mn²⁺-substituted QDs(CsPb1–xMnxX3)attract considerable attention owing to their unique photoluminescence(PL)efficiencies.The two types of QDs,having different PL decay dynamics,needed to be further investigated in a form of aggregates to understand their solid-state-induced exciton dynamics in conjunction with their behaviors upon degradation to achieve practical applications of those promising QDs.However,thus far,these QDs have not been sufficiently investigated to obtain deep insights related to the long-term stability of their PL properties as aggregated solid-states.Therefore,in this study,we comparatively examined CsPbX₃-and CsPb1–xMnxX₃-type QDs stocked for>50 d under dark ambient conditions by using excitation wavelength-dependent PL quantum yield and time-resolved PL spectroscopy.These investigations were performed with powder samples in addition to solutions to determine the influence of the inter-QD interaction of the aged QD aggregates on their radiative decays.It turns out that the Mn²⁺-substituted QDs exhibited long-lasting PL quantum efficiencies,while the unsubstituted CsPbX₃-type QDs exhibited a drastic reduction of their PL efficiencies.And the obtained PL traces were clearly sensitive to the sample status.This is discussed with the possible interaction depending on the size and distance of the QD aggregates.     

A preliminary design and structural analysis of the lifting tools for 40° sector sub-assembly and handling ITER components

The purpose-built, ITER tokamak assembly tools, which are to be provided by Korea, should be designed to meet: the assembly plan, space reservations, safety standards, simple operations, efficient maintenance, and so on. It is very important that the ITER assembly tools are able to lift and transfer ITER components or their sub-assemblies to their assembled position safely. Furthermore, the lifting tools will lift and handle very heavy loads that can be more than 1200 tonnes sometimes. Therefore, the ITER lifting tools must be designed to endure these heavy load conditions with regard to their structural integrity. Also, these designs should be verified through an appropriate method. The preliminary design of the sector lifting tool and associated lifting attachments are introduced in this paper. The sector lifting tool was designed especially to lift and handle various ITER components by adjusting the lifting centre. The structural analysis results using ANSYS are described considering the heaviest load condition. The results of the analysis show that; all stresses applied on the lifting tool are lower than the allowable stress of the applied material.