Page 15 - Autumn 2024

Industry News

GROWING ULTRATHIN

SEMICONDUCTORS

DIRECTLY ON ELECTRONICS

Scientists at Rice University have created a new tungsten diselenide is growing in importance.
method of growing ultrathin semiconductors
Sathvik Ajay Iyengar, First Author and doctoral
directly onto electronic components.
student, explains:
TChemical vapour deposition was used to
“This is the first demonstration of a transfer-
grow tungsten diselenide, a 2D semiconductor,
free method to grow 2D devices. This is a solid
directly onto patterned gold electrodes. This was
step toward reducing processing temperatures
demonstrated by building a functional, proof-of-
and making a transfer-free 2D semiconductor
concept transistor. integration process possible.
Traditional fabrication techniques involve transferring A lot of our work in this project was focused on
fragile 2D films from one surface to another, but now proving that the materials system is still intact.
the transfer process has been completely eliminated. We are well-equipped here at Rice to study the
Precursor materials have been optimised to lower chemistry that goes on in this process to a very
the synthesis temperature of the 2D semiconductor fine degree. Seeing what happens at the interface
such that it can be grown in a controlled directional between these materials was a great motivator”.
manner. Advanced imaging and chemical analysis
Doctoral Alumnus student Lucas Sassi describes how
tools confirmed that the method preserves the
the project was initiated by an accidental discovery:
integrity of the metal contacts, which are vulnerable
to damage at high temperatures. “ We received a sample from a collaborator that had
gold markers patterned on it. During CVD growth,
The method could help streamline the integration
the 2D material unexpectedly formed predominantly
of two-dimensional materials into next-generation
on the gold surface. This surprising result sparked
electronics, neuromorphic computing and
the idea that by deliberately patterning metal
other technologies that require ultrathin high-
contacts, we might be able to guide the growth of 2D
speed semiconductors, and as the electronics
semiconductors directly across them”.
industry accelerates towards smaller, faster and
more efficient components, integrating higher-
Reference: West, P., Electronic Specifier, 21st. August
performance, atomically thin materials such as

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