E3S REU Participants and Projects: 2016
Undergraduate Researcher: Sajant Anand
Major: Computer Science / Physics
Home Institution: Wake Forest University
Research Project: Generation of THz Electrical Pulses
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Jeffrey Bokor
Graduate Student Mentor: Yang Yang
Hosting Organization: Department of Material Science and Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: Using the epitaxial liftoff method, we transferred a low-temperature grown GaAs photoswitch onto a SiO2 substrate, demonstrating the feasibility of this transfer method. We measured a 2.25-ps decrease in the carrier lifetime of the LT-GaAs after transfer onto SiO2 and a 35-ps electrical pulse carried by Au conduction lines. We hope to build upon this work by manipulating magnetism by means of the generated electrical pulse. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Cecilia Chen
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Home Institution: Cornell University
Research Project: An Optical Wavelength-Division Multiplexed Communication Link
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Vladimir Stojanović
Graduate Student Mentor: Nandish Mehta
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract:Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) enables optical interconnects to have high and easily scalable data transmission rates. The key element in WDM is the optical micro-ring resonator or modulator. In this work, a 4-channel optical WDM system based on a ring resonator design from Chrostowski and Hochberg[1] was simulated at the system level in Lumerical INTERCONNECT, with device behavior and optical parameters extracted from simulations in Lumerical DEVICE and MODE Solutions, respectively. Time-domain representations of four independent datastreams modulated onto four frequency channels illustrate the behavior of this optical communication link. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Genya Crossman
Major: Physics
Home Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Research Project: TBA
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Dimitri A. Antoniadis
Postdoctoral Mentor: Dr. Redwan Sajjad
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT
Undergraduate Researcher: Christopher Eckdahl
Major: Chemistry and Materials Physics
Home Institution: Oberlin College
Research Project: Polymer Strategies Toward GNR Device Fabrication
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Felix Fischer
Graduate Student Mentor: Stephen von Kugelgen
Hosting Organization: College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), planar strips of carbon atoms which are constrained to nanometer widths in one dimension, are attractive for use in nanoelectronic devices due to their unique electronic and magnetic properties and their unsurpassably low thickness. In this study, chevron-type GNRs were targeted using ring-opening alkyne metathesis polymerization (ROAMP). This would be the first bottom-up GNR synthesis to use a chain-growth, rather than a step-growth, polymerization step, which should allow for unprecedented control over the GNR length. This control, as well as the potential to create GNR heterojunctions from block copolymeric precursors, could facilitate the fabrication of GNR-based devices. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Jane Edgington
Major: Chemical Engineering
Home Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Research Project: Engineering Adhesion Properties of NEM Contacts With Surface Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Junqiao Wu
Postdoctoral Mentor: Dr. Bivas Saha
Hosting Organization: Department of Materials Science Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Project Abstract: The efficiency of nanoelectro-mechanical relays (NEMs) depends on the adhesive properties of the electrode contact surfaces. Our goal is to minimize the adhesion force between the NEM electrode contact surfaces in order to decrease the hysteresis voltage (VH) of the relay. We are coating the electrode surfaces with two different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), Trichloro(octadecyl)silane (TCS) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PDFTES). We characterized the adhesive properties of SAM coatings on metals and then observed their impact on the energy efficiency of NEMs by comparing the hysteresis voltages of devices before and after SAM coating. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Kevin Johnson
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Home Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz
Research Project: Fully Printed Silver-Oxide Batteries
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Vladimir Stojanović
Graduate Student Mentor: Raj Kumar
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: In order to design an energy efficient, fully printed battery, it must have great stability in KOH, high conductivity, a low thermal budget, and each individual layer must be printed. A new fully printed battery architecture was designed to meet these requirements in order to achieve the most energy efficient system. An ideal battery has low internal resistance, an areal capacity between 4-10 mAh/cm2 and a high specific capacity. One of the main limitations of printed silver-oxide batteries is the corrosive nature of KOH electrolytes. To remedy this issue, corrosion of the electrode-electrolyte system must be reduced to improve cell lifetime and make better use of the electrodes. By implementing a carbon separator layer in-between the electrolyte and cathode of the battery system, we were able to improve battery stability. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Simón Lorenzo
Major: Physics
Home Institution: Louisiana State University
Research Project: Thermophotovoltaic Back-mirrored Cells as Spectral Filters
Faculty Advisors: Prof. Eli Yablonovitch
Graduate Student Mentor: Greggory Scranton
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: Thermophotovoltaic cells convert thermal radiation from local 1500-1800 K hot sources to electricity. Obstacles to efficient photovoltaic energy conversion include sub-bandgap photon loss, carriers from high-energy photons thermalizing to the band edge, and low external luminescent efficiency. We proposed that single-bandgap thermophotovoltaic cells can surpass the 23.6% efficiency record through the use of spectrum-appropriate semiconductors and a high-reflectivity back mirror. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Mariana Martinez
Major: Electrical Engineering
Home Institution: University of Texas at El Paso
Research Project: Design Optimization of NEM Relay Fabricated in Standard 65 CMOS Back-End-of-Line Process
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Tsu-Jae King Liu
Graduate Student Mentor: Urmita Sikder
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: This paper discusses the design of a single-pole/double throw nano-electro mechanical relay fabricated using a standard 65nm back-end of the line CMOS process. Simulations using the finite element analysis software tool Coventorware MEMS+ are used to study design trade-offs. Guidelines for optimizing the device geometry and dimensions to minimize the switching energy, mechanical switching delay, and beam settling time are presented. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Jorge Quintero
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Home Institution: Rice University
Research Project: TBA
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Jesús A. del Alamo
Graduate Student Mentor: Xin Zhao
Hosting Organization: Microsystems Technology Laboratories, MIT
Undergraduate Researcher: Alexander Rosner
Major: Electrical Engineering
Home Institution: University of Notre Dame
Research Project: Terahertz Switching of Ferroelectric HfO2
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Sayeef Salahuddin
Graduate Student Mentor: Korok Chatterjee
Hosting Organization: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Project Abstract: Hafnium Oxide’s (HfO2) compatibility with the CMOS process and its ferroelectric phase make it a desirable material for the gate of a transistor. However, its response time while it switches polarization could limit its applications in certain high-performance devices. By introducing an induction term in the Landau-Khalatnikov equation, which describes the dynamic motion of the ferroelectric polarization, we hope to better understand the frequency response of HfO2 and its limitations. The classical damped oscillator model also can model polarization and be fitted to optical data to determine its coefficients. Together, these two models can predict an internal resistivity that determines the fastest switching time of HfO2. Project poster
Undergraduate Researcher: Erin Walk
Major: Mechanical Engineering Sciences
Home Institution: Harvard University
Research Project: TBA
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Jing Kong
Graduate Student Mentor: Yi Song
Hosting Organization: Electrical Engineering Department, MIT