Non-volatile memory with multiple GeSn nanocrystals floating gate controlled by electric field and light with low power consumption (LighTinGMemLowP)
Project Director: Dr. Magdalena Lidia CIUREA
Project goal is fabrication of nonvolatile memory (NVM) device, with 1-3 floating gates (FGs) of GeSn nanocrystals (NCs), controlled by electric field and illumination. GeSn NCs FG is a novel solution benefiting from the high sensitivity of GeSn NCs in short-wave infrared (SWIR). This NVM is a multilayer (ML) capacitor-like device (top contact/ gate oxide/ (FG of GeSn NCs / tunnel oxide)n / Si wafer/ bottom contact, n=1-3) and will be fabricated in 2 versions V1 (uses stacks of HfO2 & SiO2 for gate & tunnel oxides) and V2 (uses only SiO2). A very efficient approach of magnetron sputtering deposition on heated substrate (dynamic annealing) is used, being one-step fabrication. GeSn NCs nodes in FG will be charged by bias voltage & light (wavelengths ≥1000 nm), simultaneously applied. The targeted performances of NVMs with GeSn NCs FG are: 3–5 V memory window, 10%–12% charge loss at 104 s (30% after 10 years), high photosensitivity in 1000–1800 nm range (GeSn NCs with 10%–15% Sn), and low power consumption (by light). The impact of project is: *scientific (deep understanding of electronic processes and device operation), *technological (processes and parameters), *social & economic (cheap security systems (IoT) for event detection, integrated photonics on Si, image capturing, (photonic) neuromorphic computing devices, computer systems; young people formation). Project results: 5 Q1&Q2 ISI papers, 5 conference communications, 1 patent application, considering open publication practices.
The project goal is to fabricate a NVM device, with up to 3 FG storing layers of GeSn NCs, controlled by electric field and illumination.
Project Results (proposed Work Plan):
technological parameters; photolithographic masks; test samples with or no contacts, characteristics, images; configured test samples with proper properties for V1&V2; characteristics & parameters of optimal test samples: images, curves & spectra, crystalline structures, composition & morphology; memory window, retention curves, charge loss; completely characterized V1&V2 samples; NVM devices completely characterized; NVMs with targeted properties of 3–5 V memory window, 10%–12% charge loss at 104 s (30% estimated at 10 years) and high sensitivity in 1000–1800 nm ensured by GeSn NCs with 10%–15% Sn; project webpage; 5 papers in Q1, Q2 journals; 5 international conference communications / papers; 1 patent application; progress reports and final report
Stage 1/2025 WP1. Fabrication of test samples for 2 versions V1 and V2 – part I; WP4. Dissemination and exploitation of results – part I
Stage 2/2026 WP1. Fabrication of test samples for 2 versions V1 and V2 – part II; WP2. Characterization of V1 and V2 test samples: crystalline structure, morphology, composition, memory properties – part I; WP4. Dissemination and exploitation of results – part II
Stage 3/2027 WP1. Fabrication of test samples for 2 versions V1 and V2 – part III; Characterization of V1 and V2 test samples: crystalline structure, morphology, composition, memory properties – part II; WP3. Fabrication of NVM based on GeSn NCs FG controlled by both electric field and light – part I; WP4. Dissemination and exploitation of results – part III
Stage 4/2028 WP3. Fabrication of NVM based on GeSn NCs FG controlled by both electric field and light – part II; WP4. Dissemination and exploitation of results – part IV
- Dr. Magdalena Lidia Ciurea, Project Director / https://www.brainmap.ro/lidia-magdalena-ciurea
- Dr. Catalin Palade, Postdoc / https://www.brainmap.ro/catalin-palade
- Dr. Ana-Maria Lepadatu, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/ana-maria-lepadatu
- Dr. Toma Stoica, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/toma-stoica
- Dr. Ionel Stavarache, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/ionel-stavarache
- Dr. Adrian Slav, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/adrian-slav
- Dr. Valentin Serban Teodorescu, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/valentin-serban-teodorescu
- Dr. Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu, Researcher / https://www.brainmap.ro/valentin-adrian-maraloiu
- Dr. Ioana Maria Avram Dascalescu, Postdoc / https://www.brainmap.ro/ioana-maria-dascalescu
- Dr. Ovidiu Cojocaru, Postdoc / https://www.brainmap.ro/ovidiu-cojocaru
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