Researchers Demonstrate Super-Thin Semiconductor Deposition for Temperature Sensing

Outcome/Accomplishment

The first-ever demonstration of a large-temperature coefficient through a super-thin semiconducting layer was conducted by researchers at the Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS), an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at the University of Illinois.

Impact/Benefits

No commercial product exists that can sense temperature changes with such atomically thin semiconducting materials. The work at POETS could enable condition-based monitoring and diagnostics of critical electronic components and help meet the need for novel electrical and thermal component designs for POETS testbed systems.

Explanation/Background

Temperature sensing is critical for numerous applications in electronics, including the suppression of thermal failures in integrated circuits. Traditional temperature sensors rely on thermocouples, resistors, or circuit-based sensors that cannot be placed with microscale precision and cannot respond to ultrafast temperature changes.

The POETS researchers demonstrated a novel transfer technique for two-dimensional semiconductor materials, resulting in a monolayer thickness of 0.6 nm. The technique incorporated contacts on polyimide substrates that will provide the basis for integration into power modules.

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Location

Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

e-mail

poets-erc@illinois.edu

Start Year

Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon
Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon

Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT

Lead Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Core Partners

Howard University, Stanford University, University of Arkansas
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Outcome/Accomplishment

The first-ever demonstration of a large-temperature coefficient through a super-thin semiconducting layer was conducted by researchers at the Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS), an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at the University of Illinois.

Location

Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

e-mail

poets-erc@illinois.edu

Start Year

Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon
Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon

Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT

Lead Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Core Partners

Howard University, Stanford University, University of Arkansas

Impact/benefits

No commercial product exists that can sense temperature changes with such atomically thin semiconducting materials. The work at POETS could enable condition-based monitoring and diagnostics of critical electronic components and help meet the need for novel electrical and thermal component designs for POETS testbed systems.

Explanation/Background

Temperature sensing is critical for numerous applications in electronics, including the suppression of thermal failures in integrated circuits. Traditional temperature sensors rely on thermocouples, resistors, or circuit-based sensors that cannot be placed with microscale precision and cannot respond to ultrafast temperature changes.

The POETS researchers demonstrated a novel transfer technique for two-dimensional semiconductor materials, resulting in a monolayer thickness of 0.6 nm. The technique incorporated contacts on polyimide substrates that will provide the basis for integration into power modules.