An online short term course on Nanotechnology for Electronic and Photonic Devices (NanoDev-2020) was organized by department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh in technical collaboration with IEEE Chandigarh Subsection and Indian Society of Systems for Science and Engineering (ISSE) Chandigarh Chapter from June 15-19, 2020. More than 650 participants from various Universities, Research organizations and Industries from India and abroad registered for the course. The event was coordinated by Prof. Arun Kumar Singh with an objective to provide an insight to understand and utilize the unique properties and interaction of novel materials, their physics and chemistry for the design and development of state-of-the art next generation electronic and photonic devices to meet the needs of relevant industry, space, defense and research organization.
The event was kicked off by Prof. Dheeraj Sanghi, Director, PEC in the presence of Prof. Neelu Jain, Head, Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Prof. Neena Gupta, Chairperson, IEEE Chandigarh Subsection, Dr. Manish Hooda, Scientist SCL Mohali and Secretary, ISSE Chandigarh Chapter and Dr. Sanjay Batish, Coordinator, TEQIP-III. Prof. Sanghi appreciated the efforts of Course coordinator to rope-in eminent speakers from leading research universities, defense and space laboratories and industries to deliver talks on different nano-electronic and photonic technologies. He further encouraged the participants for responsible development of products based upon such technologies to meet out the most pressing human and societal needs.
In the inaugural talk on day 1, Dr. H.S. Jatana, Sr. Scientist, of Semiconductor laboratory (SCL) Mohali emphasised the necessity to work in area of Nanotechnology particularly for the development of photodetectors to meet out the energy requirements discussing about the advantages and challenges of infrared (IR) photodetectors. Prof. Yogesh Chauhan, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur introduced the compact modelling techniques to predict the electrical (DC and AC), and noise characteristics of semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs, FINFETs and nanotransistors. He also elaborated about his recently developed ASM GaN HEMT model which has been widely adapted by the Industries. Dr. D. S. Rawal, Scientist, Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), DRDO introduced the participants various fabrication technologies available for the nanoelectronic and photonic devices. He also discussed about III-V materials their properties and applications. In the closing lecture of day 1, Dr. Amit Singh, Scientist, SCL Mohali discussed about the characteristics of high voltage silicon devices, and their challenges elaborating RESURF/LDMOS architectures, self-heating and kink effects.
On day 2, Prof. Santanu Mahapatra, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) Bengaluru explained the atom-to-circuit modelling techniques for emerging nanomaterial MOSFETs. He also discussed about utilization of novel 2D material such as black phosphorus, germane and sillicene for FETs, multi scale modelling and impact on circuit simulations. Next, talk was delivered by Prof. Jawar Singh, IIT Patna on in-memory Computing for Energy efficient and intensive computations. He further elaborated about the advantages of in-memory computing than that of traditional computing, elements of in-memory computing, energy efficiency for AL and ML applications. In the closing lecture, Dr. Ayan Karmakar, Scientist at SCL discussed about the utilization of MEMS technology in antenna engineering. The wafer bonding, micromachining and electroplating techniques for RF MEMS were explained in addition to the concepts of lumped and distributed elements, planar transmission lines.
Dr. Arun Ashok, Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics Research Centre (ZEA), Julich, Germany discussed FDSOI applications for advanced architectures in the first session of day 3. He first introduced about the various research activities being carried out at Julich Research Center. Thereafter, he discussed about the FDSOI basics, merits of FDSOI, IOT node example and FDSOI in quantum computing. In the next talk, Prof. Samresh Das, IIT Delhi discussed about group IV semiconductors and its heterostructure with layered transition metal dichalcogenide for photonic device applications. Further, he elaborated about silicon nanowire based photonics detectors, THz detectors and modulators. In the closing lecture, Dr. Gaurav Jayaswal from SCL discussed about the THz rectenna for energy harvesting applications. He also introduced various concepts of infrared rectennas, nano antennas, surface plasmon, and nano antenna integrated diode.
On day 4 of the workshop, the first talk was delivered by Prof. Dipankar, IIT, Bombay on high speed processes in semiconductors. Starting from the basic electron transport, he discussed very high speed electron conduction called ballistic transport regime in high speed GaN HEMTs, GaN LEDS and quantum dots. Dr. Meena Mishra, Scientist, SSPL. Delhi talked about RF characterisation of GaN high power devices and circuits. She started her talk by apprising everyone about various measurement facilities for S-parameters, pulsed, noise and power measurements. She further discussed about role and importance characterisation such as in detections of traps in GaN HEMTs. In the last lecture of day 4, Dr. Saumya Sengupta, Scientist at SCL Mohali discussed about the compound semiconductor technology for IR photo detection and utilization for imaging applications. He introduced about the IR photodetectors. Thereafter, he discussed about end to end development of GaAs technology based QWP/QDIP and FPA.
First talk on the last day of STC was delivered by Prof. Satinder Sharma, IIT Mandi on nanoelectronics device and their applications. He started with a brief introduction to nanoelectronics roadmap discussing about the origin of nanoelectronics. 1D finite potential barrier, applications of tunnelling scanning microscope single electron transistor and carbon nanotube FET were also discussed. Prof. Brajesh Kaushik, IIT Roorkee talked about the VLSI interconnects, their challenges and prospects. He discussed about structure, properties and characteristics of interconnects, which is one of the important component in any VLSI circuit. Further, he explained about the modelling of graphene based interconnects such as CNT and GNR, advanced packaging techniques and through silicon via applications. Dr. Manoj Khandpal, Scientist SCL Mohali delivered the last talk on the closing day of the workshop on MEMS Sensor Technology for Space Applications. He emphasised on the utilization of micro-/nano-electronics in the space. Later, he discussed about different types of MEMS sensors such as chemical and physical sensors.
The event was concluded with a feedback session in which participants expressed their views and showed great satisfaction at the successful completion of the NanoDev 2020. Participants also suggested to conduct such short term courses/workshops/seminars in nanotechnology as exposure to these upcoming technological innovations in electronic and photonics systems is highly enlightening particularly for the younger researchers and is need of the hour. This year’s STC offered wide range of lectures in nano-electronics and nano-photonics domain, including materials for nanodevices, novel nano-electronic devices for microwave rectification, plasmonic based devices, MMICs and device Fabrication techniques, HEMT devices and characterization techniques, memory devices, MEMS and their simulation techniques said Dr. Arun Kumar Singh, Coordinator, NanoDev 2020. He thanked all the invited speakers for sharing their research experiences with the participants, and acknowledged the full support of Prof. Dheeraj Sanghi, Director, PEC and Prof. Neelu Jain, Head, Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering in the organization of STC. He further showed gratitude to Prof. Neena Gupta, Chairperson, IEEE Chandigarh Subsection, Dr. Manish Hooda, Scientist SCL Mohali and Secretary, ISSE Chandigarh Chapter for technical collaboration and Dr. Sanjay Batish, Coordinator, TEQIP-III for financial support.
