Current reliability issues and future technologies for systems on silicon – processes, circuits, chip architecture, and design

The progress of silicon technology is opening the era of “systems on silicon” in which a large-scale memory, a CPU, and other logic macros will be integrated on a single chip. These kinds of chips, called system LSIs, have an especially promising future in mobile and multimedia applications but face inherent technical problems related to the reliability of ultrathin oxide film, conflict in the processing of different components, increased gate and subthreshold leakage currents, memory bottlenecks, and design complexity. This paper reviews the system LSIs and then introduces related technologies in processing, circuits, chip architecture, and design. It also discusses the influence of the system LSIs on business strategies.     

Characterisation of volatile sulphur-containing compounds generated in crushed leaves of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler)

To characterise the composition of sulphur-containing constituents in Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler), GC–MS and HPLC analyses were carried out, using 12 varieties of Chinese origin, 4 varieties of Japanese origin and 6 commercially available cultivars. Five disulphides (dimethyl, allyl methyl, methyl 1-(E)-propenyl, diallyl, and allyl 1-(E)-propenyl), two trisulphides (dimethyl and allyl methyl), and two vinyldithiins (3-vinyl-[4H]-1,2- and 2-vinyl-[4H]-1,3-) were identified on the basis of their mass spectral and GC-retention data. Among the detected sulphur compounds, sulphides with a methyl group predominated over those with an allyl group. This was supported by the HPLC estimations, suggesting that all cultivars examined had much greater amounts of methiin than alliin. Also, two novel compounds were tentatively identified as [3H,4H]-1,2-dithiin and [2H,4H]-1,3-dithiin on the basis of their mass spectral features, GC-retention data, and some experimental results on their formation in reaction mixtures with different proportions of methiin and alliin. Their formation mechanism was proposed.     

An outcome of nuclear safety research in JAERI: case study for LOCA

An outcome of nuclear safety research (NSR) done by JAERI (Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute) was case studied by the bibliometric method. (1) For LOCA (loss-of-coolant accident) a domestic share of JAERI in monoclinic research paper was 63% at the past (20) 1978–1982 but was decreased to 40% at the present 1998–2002. For co-authored papers a domestic share between JAERI and PS (public sectors) was zero at past (20) but increased to 4% at the present. Research cooperation is active between Tokyo University and JAERI or between JAERI and Nagoya University. (2) It is revealed that LOCA outputs born by NSR-JAERI reflected partly to those of the Safety Licensing Guidelines, however, a share of NSR-JAERI could not determined due to the lack of necessary information in the Guideline.     

Conjugated‐Polymer‐Based Lateral Heterostructures Defined by High‐Resolution Photolithography

Solution processing of polymer semiconductors provides a new paradigm for large‐area electronics manufacturing on flexible substrates, but it also severely restricts the realization of interesting advanced device architectures, such as lateral heterostructures with defined interfaces, which are easily accessible with inorganic materials using photolithography. This is because polymer semiconductors degrade, swell, or dissolve during conventional photoresist processing. Here a versatile, high‐resolution photolithographic method is demonstrated for patterning of polymer semiconductors and exemplify this with high‐performance p‐type and n‐type field‐effect transistors (FETs) in both bottom‐ and top‐gate architectures, as well as ambipolar light‐emitting field‐effect transistors (LEFETs), in which the recombination zone can be pinned at a photolithographically defined lateral heterojunction between two semiconducting polymers. The technique therefore enables the realization of a broad range of novel device architectures while retaining optimum materials performance.     

A novel MOSFET with vertical signal‐transfer capability for 3D‐structured CMOS image sensors

We have developed a novel MOSFET that can transfer signals vertically without through‐silicon vias but by using a fully depleted silicon‐on‐insulator (FDSOI) structure with its source region connected to the back electrodes as well as the front ones. A prototype MOSFET fabricated using the backside anisotropic wet etching technique has confirmed that the electrical characteristics measured from the front and the back electrodes are identical. The subthreshold factor S of the prototype was found to be 64.5 mV/decade, suggesting a good switching performance. Since the double‐sided MOSFET has vertical signal‐transfer capability and excellent operating characteristics, it is expected to contribute to developing a More‐than‐Moore type device of three‐dimensional integration such as pixel‐parallel image sensors. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Field instrument for simultaneous large dynamic range measurement of atmospheric hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and sulfur dioxide

We describe a membrane-based collection/analysis system that differentially monitors H2S and CH3SH, and to which a conductometric SO2 analyzer using the same collector was coupled. A diffusion scrubber (DS) comprised of a Nafion tube collects H2S selectively while a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (pPTFE) DS collects both H2S and CH3SH. Both gases are measured via their ability to react with fluorescein mercuric acetate (FMA) which results in decreased fluorescence. The limited dynamic range of a negative signal procedure was overcome by using dual DS units comprised of short and long scrubbers, placed serially in the liquid flow line. Different DS designs and membrane materials were investigated. H2S, CH3SH, and SO2 from a biogenic point source were continuously measured, and the H2S/CH3SH data compared well with a standard procedure involving Tedlar bag collection, preconcentration and thermal desorption from a Tenax trap, and measurement by gas chromatography/flame photometric detection. Walkaround portability of the instrument and very large dynamic range measurement of H2S and SO2 were demonstrated around the Mt. Aso volcano.     

Sub-millimeter-long carbon nanotubes repeatedly grown on and separated from ceramic beads in a single fluidized bed reactor

A semi-continuous fluidized-bed process is reported which rapidly converts acetylene into carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Catalysts are first immobilized on ceramic beads and CNTs are then grown on the beads and then separated from them in a repetitive process accomplished within a single reactor simply by switching gases at a fixed temperature. CNTs of 6–10 nm diameter, three walls on average, 0.4 mm length and 99 wt.% purity were synthesized at an yield of over 70% in a reactor residence time shorter than 0.3 s. The easy and efficient production of such CNTs with in situ separation from the catalysts may accelerate the development of CNT-based nanotechnology industries.     

A low-carbon scenario creation method for a local-scale economy and its application in Kyoto city

On May 2008, Kyoto city government set up a low-carbon target of a 50% GHG reduction by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. To contribute to these discussions, we developed a local (city-scale) low-carbon scenario creation method. An estimation model was developed to show a quantitative and consistent future snapshot. The model can explicitly treat the uncertainty of future socio-economic situations, which originate from the openness of local economy. The method was applied to Kyoto city, and countermeasures to achieve the low-carbon target were identified. Without countermeasures, emissions would increase 12% from 2000. Among the measures, the reduction potential of energy efficiency improvements to residential and commercial sectors was found to be relatively large (15% and 18% of total reductions, respectively). The reduction potential of the passenger transport sector, in which the city government's policy is especially important, was 17% of the total amount. A sensitivity analysis showed that a 10% increase in exports leads to an 8.5% increase in CO₂ emissions, and a 20% increase in the share of the commuters from outside the city leads to a 3.5% decrease of CO₂ emissions because of the smaller number of residents in the city.     

Analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst layers for reduction of platinum loading at Nissan

The biggest issue that must be addressed in promoting widespread use of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) is to reduce the cost of the fuel cell system. Especially, it is of vital importance to reduce platinum (Pt) loading of catalyst layers (CLs) in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In order to lower the Pt loading of the MEA, mass transport of reactants related to the performance in high current density should be enhanced significantly as well as kinetics of the catalyst, which can result in the better Pt utilization and effectiveness. In this study, we summarized our analytical approach and methods for reduction of Pt loading in CLs. Microstructure, mass transport properties of the reactants, and their relation in CLs were elucidated by applying experimental analyses and computational methods. A simple CL model for I–V performance prediction was then established, where experimentally elucidated parameters of the microstructure and the properties in CLs were taken into account. Finally, we revealed the impact of lowering the Pt loading on the transport properties, polarization, and the I–V performance.