The National Science Foundation recently awarded $3.8 million to two projects in which University of Arizona engineers will develop solutions to semiconductor energy dilemmas as part of the Future of Semiconductors (FuSe2) program.
Energy use in semiconductor-based technologies, from data centers, computers, and smartphones to solar cells, electric vehicles, and medical devices, has doubled every three years since 2010. US Department of Energy. And these products could consume nearly 20% of the world’s energy by 2030.
FuSe2-funded research and education will address major challenges for the U.S. semiconductor industry. Two interdisciplinary projects involving multiple universities leverage the work of University A. Faculty of Engineering Expertise in wireless communications and computer memory systems. Each team will receive $1.9 million over three years.
“Semiconductor technology is the foundation of the modern economy and is critical to addressing the great challenges of our time, from energy efficiency to advanced computing to national security,” said Thomas, senior vice president for research and innovation at the University. Diaz de la Rubia said. “Groundbreaking research at the University of Arizona demonstrates the innovations essential to driving technological progress and ensuring sustainable solutions for the future.”
Marwan KlunzA Regents electrical and computer engineering professor is contributing to microchips, or collections of semiconductors, that are expected to increase energy efficiency by a factor of 10 to 100 and improve next-generation wireless communications. Endowed Professor Kenneth von Behlen will lead the university. whisper centerwas established in October with the aim of improving NextG’s functionality and security. Klunz received $575,000 for his team’s role in the Arizona State University-led FuSe2 project.
Wang WeigangA professor of physics and electrical and computer engineering, he develops new materials and devices that significantly reduce energy waste, speed up computer memory systems by up to 100 times, and enable the further miniaturization of electronic devices. is leading. The U of A will receive $1.1 million of the project’s total award amount.
Rising energy demand and concerns about environmental sustainability are threatening the market’s ability to advance computing technology, according to the Semiconductor Research Corporation, an industry group.
“Revolutionary changes to computing will soon be required,” he said, noting that global energy production is only increasing by about 2% a year, according to the SRC’s 10-year plan for semiconductors.
“Each team is working on core technical challenges towards advanced technologies that improve communications and computing while reducing energy consumption.” Liesel FawkesVice President of Semiconductor Strategy and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University.
Spin semiconductors faster and more efficiently
Wang’s team is “combining theoretical research and experimental manufacturing to create new materials that aim to revolutionize energy consumption across computing, from power-hungry AI systems to everyday devices. “We are developing this,” said the co-principal investigator. Toshiron Adegbiaassociate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Spin Lab’s machines use an ultra-high vacuum magnetron sputtering process. In this method, samples are created as part of Wang’s research.
Billions of data can be stored on a single chip Silicon-based transistors are the basis of today’s computer memory. A transistor continuously switches between two binary states: 1 and 0. A computer language that indicates when an electric current is on or off. Billions of binary numbers (bits) are used to store, process, and transmit data such as text, numbers, images, and video. The more complex the task or calculation, the more energy is consumed by the transistor.
Researchers are working on magnetic tunnel junctions that could one day replace transistors in storing information. Instead of charge, magnetic tunnel junctions use a quantum mechanical property of electrons called spin to store and manipulate information. These devices have been studied for about 25 years. However, although the behavior of ferromagnetic electrodes is similar to that of a compass electrode, their nanoscale nature limits the use of this technique.
Wang and his team are researching new devices using antiferromagnets. The difference from ferromagnets is the arrangement of internal spins. When an antiferromagnetic device writes a 0 or 1, the information is retained even when power is removed, resulting in significant energy savings.
“It’s like a magnet on a refrigerator door, and it can stay in that position for 10 years because the spin is held in place by quantum mechanical forces,” said Professor Wang, who founded A University. said. spin lab In 2012, he became a fellow of the university. Semiconductor manufacturing center.
Additionally, each antiferromagnetic tunnel junction does not interact in the same way as other antiferromagnetic tunnel junctions, allowing even more antiferromagnetic tunnel junctions to be tightly packed into even smaller devices.
Involve and inspire students
U of A students at all levels contribute to both FuSe2 projects. Wang is also working with Sunnyside High School to welcome Tucson teachers and students to the spin lab.
Foulkes said it is important to educate qualified workers for the semiconductor industry.
“It’s really important to involve teachers and students in the development of new technology and get them excited about what the future holds,” she said.
