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Press Release 06-085
A Cool Way to Strip Hydrogen
Using lasers to clear silicon surfaces could make for cheaper, better computer chips and solar cells
May 18, 2006
Researchers have demonstrated a new laser-based technique for stripping hydrogen atoms from the surface of silicon, an advance that could significantly reduce the cost and improve the quality of computer chips, solar cells and a wide variety of other semiconductor devices.
The scientists' work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, and is reported in the May 19 issue of the journal Science. The team includes Philip I. Cohen at the University of Minnesota, Leonard C. Feldman, Norman Tolk and Zhiheng Liu at Vanderbilt University, and Zhenyu Zhang from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.
The laser technique addresses a key step in the production of microchips, which are typically built by laying down multiple layers of silicon in sequence. To keep each new surface from oxidizing, manufacturers routinely expose it to hydrogen atoms that attach to all the available silicon bonds. Then they remove the hydrogen atoms before adding the next layer. Unfortunately, their usual method--applying heat--can destroy the silicon's crystalline perfection and ruin the chip.
By stripping the hydrogen off with lasers, however, manufacturers could potentially work at much lower temperatures, which should dramatically improve yields.
For more information, see the news releases from Vanderbilt University, University of Minnesota and the University of Tennessee.
An animation of the laser process is also available.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF (703) 292-7752 mwaldrop@nsf.gov
Deane Morrison, University of Minnesota (612) 624-2346 morri029@umn.edu
Jay Mayfield, University of Tennessee (865) 974-9409 jay.mayfield@tennessee.edu
David F. Salisbury, Vanderbilt University (615) 343-6803 david.salisbury@vanderbilt.edu
Related Websites
An animation of the laser process: http://www.nsf.gov/news/longurl.cfm?id=2
The University of Minnesota news release: http://www.nsf.gov/news/longurl.cfm?id=3
The University of Tennessee news release: http://pr.tennessee.edu/news/release.asp?id=2470
The Vanderbilt University news release: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/stories/hsidesorption.html
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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