Collaborative Research: Programmable Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching for Three-Dimensional Functional Metamaterials

合作研究：三维功能超材料的可编程金属辅助化学蚀刻

• 批准号: 1462631
• 负责人: Weidong Zhou
• 金额: $ 12万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Arlington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-05-01 至 2018-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1462631&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Programmable; Metal; Assisted

Metamaterials are artificially structured materials that exhibit unusual, but advantageous, electromagnetic properties not readily found in nature. The special properties arise from regions of complex structural features organized in a periodic arrangement. Currently, the fabrication of the optical metamaterials is largely based on intrinsic two-dimensional patterning processes, with limited demonstrations of three-dimensional optical metamaterials mostly based on polymer structures. There are no manufacturing techniques for direct fabrication of three-dimensional crystalline semiconductor-based metamaterials. This award explores a unique programmable metal-assisted chemical etching process for the scalable nano-manufacturing of three-dimensional functional metamaterials. Such an approach will overcome the current roadblocks towards integrated photonics based on functional metamaterials to enable complete control of light. The versatile fabrication methodology and materials functionalities will inevitably impact the production of three-dimensional electronics and photonics, tissue engineering, and energy conversion/storage. By engaging students including women and minorities in this emerging field of research, the award activities will help ensure their competence and leadership in today's global environment. Outreach activities targeting high school teachers, students, and the general public will raise awareness and prepare our future workforce to embrace the emerging US nano-manufacturing industry.Metal-assisted chemical etching is an anisotropic solution-based etching method that defies the textbook definition of wet etching. By this technique, three-dimensional high aspect-ratio semiconductor nanostructures are formed by engraving patterned metal template into the body of the semiconductor. Under controlled conditions, etching occurs only at the interface between the metal and the semiconductor. As a result, the metal layer descends or digs into the semiconductor as the underlying semiconductor is eroded. In this study, as etching proceeds, a magnetic field is programmed to guide the movement of ferromagnetic-metal catalyst and arbitrary three-dimensional curvilinear nanostructures are formed by programming the trajectory of the metal catalyst as it engraves into the body of Si or higher index III-V semiconductors. Because of its compatibility with integrated circuit manufacturing, this method is scalable for high-volume manufacturing of highly desired functional optical metamaterials. The collaborative effort with complementary expertise in nanofabrication and photonics, respectively, is positioned to provide a leap-ahead advance in capabilities for manufacturing three-dimensional micro- and nano-scale semiconductor and metallo-dielectric structures with unprecedented control of shape and dimensions, and for development of novel functional optical and other materials and devices.

超材料是人工结构的材料，具有自然界中不易发现的不寻常但有利的电磁特性。这些特殊性质源于以周期性排列组织的复杂结构特征的区域。目前，光学超材料的制造主要基于固有的二维图案化工艺，而基于聚合物结构的三维光学超材料的演示有限。目前还没有直接制造基于三维晶体半导体的超材料的制造技术。该奖项探索了一种独特的可编程金属辅助化学蚀刻工艺，用于三维功能超材料的可扩展纳米制造。这种方法将克服当前基于功能超材料的集成光子学的障碍，以实现对光的完全控制。多功能的制造方法和材料功能将不可避免地影响三维电子学和光子学、组织工程和能量转换/存储的生产。通过让包括女性和少数族裔在内的学生参与这一新兴研究领域，该奖项活动将有助于确保他们在当今全球环境中的能力和领导力。针对高中教师、学生和公众的宣传活动将提高人们的认识，并为我们未来的劳动力做好准备，以拥抱新兴的美国纳米制造行业。金属辅助化学蚀刻是一种基于各向异性溶液的蚀刻方法，违背了教科书的定义湿法蚀刻。通过该技术，通过将图案化金属模板雕刻到半导体主体中来形成三维高纵横比半导体纳米结构。在受控条件下，蚀刻仅发生在金属和半导体之间的界面处。结果，当下面的半导体被腐蚀时，金属层下降或深入到半导体中。在这项研究中，随着蚀刻的进行，磁场被编程来引导铁磁金属催化剂的运动，并且通过编程金属催化剂刻入硅或更高指数体中的轨迹，形成任意三维曲线纳米结构。 III-V族半导体。由于其与集成电路制造的兼容性，该方法可扩展用于高度期望的功能光学超材料的大批量制造。此次合作分别在纳米制造和光子学方面具有互补的专业知识，旨在在制造三维微米和纳米级半导体和金属电介质结构的能力方面取得飞跃式的进步，并具有前所未有的形状和尺寸控制能力，以及用于开发新型功能光学和其他材料和器件。