- Thermally stable contacts to GaN
- Development of thermally stable Ohmic and Schottky contacts to both n- and p-type Gallium Nitride is essential to realize the potential for GaN-based electronics and optoelectronics for use in high speed, high temperature applications.
- ZnO LEDs
- Zinc Oxide offers several benefits when compared to GaN for use in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). ZnO has a higher exciton binding energy than GaN (60 meV vs 25 meV) and bulk n-type ZnO is available commercially.
- Sensors
- These lightweight sensors with the possibility of being integrated with on-chip wireless communication and remote data transmission could be used for perimeter defense, early-warning of chemical attacks and possible detection of improvised explosive devices.
- Flexible Thin Film Transistors
- Flexible electronics have advantages such as low profile, light weight, small size, and better performance. In displays, thin film transistors (TFTs) are used as switching components in the active-matrix over a large area. Currently, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) mostly use amorphous Si as the channel.in TFTs. However, due to the low mobility (<1 cm2/Vs) and high process temperature (350C), amorphous Si-TFTs are not available for high resolution displays on cheap plastic substrates. Organic TFTs have very low mobility (< 1 cm2/Vs) and may have reliability concerns. Oxide-based TFTs have at least 1 order higher mobility (10~50 cm2/Vs) than amorphous Si-TFTs and organic TFTs and can be deposited at room temperature. The high mobility of oxide-based TFTs, make them available for high resolution displays and can integrate switching TFTs in the active-matrix and driver-integrated circuits (driver ICs) on the same plastic substrate, which can reduce cost and provide a more compact display. Besides, oxide-based TFTs have other advantages such as room temperature deposition, higher transparency and better smoothness. Oxide-based TFTs have a great potential to realize a roll-to-roll display. If this technology can be realized, it may not only replace the current amorphous Si-TFTs for LCDs, but will also create new applications on various sets such as heads-up, windshield, electronic books or light weight computers for soldiers in the battle field.
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