By Christina Ruhngård

In the atomic scale, quantum physical phenomena are doing pranks, and to overcome them is a challenge. But there is an alternative, and it is spelled nanowires.

”The approach is to look into the possibility of making new types of components that only work in the nanoscale, where the whole function of the transistor is based on quantum physical phenomena. And this is exactly what we do,” explains Professor Lars Samuelsson.

Breakthrough in Nanotechnology

Present-day technology uses a top-down procedure that etches the components into a silicon surface. Lars and his fellow researchers at the Nanometer Structure Consortium have found a way of making components the other way around - namely bottom-up.

A tiny gold particle is applied onto a semiconductor plate. Underneath each particle a pillar of a crystalline structure is grown, this is the nanowire. The procedure allows for each nanowire to be positioned exactly, making it possible to control the pattern made on the plate.

“We build dense arrays of components that stand up from the surface. It’s a cheap and easy method of patterning, which compared to existing technology gives a much higher density. At once transistors can be made in the 10 nm scale, as opposed to 100nm. And we can foresee exactly how we can push this even further.” says Lars.

Three years ago, the research group had a major breakthrough. They were first in the world to build one-dimensional nanowires combining different segments of semi conducting materials. This makes it possible to build electronic components that work.

”The semiconductor industry sees this technology as the likely successor to conventionally manufactured components.” states Lars. “But it will take at least ten years until it is used in a large-scale. In niche applications, such as mobile phone electronics, body implants that communicate with their surrounding world, sun panels and lighting panels, where low power consumption and high speed are needed, it can happen within three to four years.”

Nanoscience for Future Electronic Devices

Nanometer Structure Consortium in Lund has been identified as one of five Strategic Centres for Microelectronics in Sweden. It is the centre for Future Electronic Devices, a title challenging the research group to come up with something that can be built into circuits.

Nano electronics are the focus of Lars’ colleague Lars-Erik Wernersson, a newly appointed Professor. He is tall and thin, looking young for a Professor. He has returned to his Alma Mater having done research in Japan and the US. His experiences internationally have motivated him to expand his academic network.

“I generally spend a day a week at the Department of Electro science. They do a lot of work in chip design with Ericsson. Being there gives me knowledge of what the industry wants, which is, in my opinion, very important.” says Lars-Erik.

This article was originally published by Øresund IT Magasine (nr. 6 - 2005). You can download the magazine in PDF format on Publications.