Approaching Gas Phase Electrodeposition: Process and Optimization to Enable the Self-Aligned Growth of 3D Nanobridge-Based Interconnects.

A nanowire bonding process referred to as gas-phase electrodeposition is reported to form nanobridge-based interconnects. The process is able to grow free-standing point-to-point electrical connections using metallic wires. As a demonstration, programmable interconnects and an interdigitated electrode array are shown. The process is more material efficient when compared with conventional vapor deposition since the material is directed to the point of use.

Millimeter Thin and Rubber-Like Solid-State Lighting Modules Fabricated Using Roll-to-Roll Fluidic Self-Assembly and Lamination.

A millimeter thin rubber-like solid-state lighting module is reported. The fabrication of the lighting module incorporates assembly and electrical connection of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The assembly is achieved using a roll-to-roll fluidic self-assembly. The LEDs are sandwiched in-between a stretchable top and bottom electrode to relieve the mechanical stress. The top contact is realized using a lamination technique that eliminates wire-bonding.

Active matrix-based collection of airborne analytes: an analyte recording chip providing exposure history and finger print.

In the field of sensors that target the detection of airborne analytes, Corona/lens-based-collection provides a new path to achieve a high sensitivity. An active-matrix-based analyte collection approach referred to as "airborne analyte memory chip/recorder" is demonstrated, which takes and stores airborne analytes in a matrix to provide an exposure history for off-site analysis.

A first implementation of an automated reel-to-reel fluidic self-assembly machine.

A first automated reel-to-reel fluidic selfassembly process for macroelectronic applications is reported. This system enables high-speed assembly of semiconductor dies (15 000 chips per hour using a 2.5 cm-wide web) over large-area substrates. The optimization of the system (>99% assembly yield) is based on identification, calculation, and optimization of the relevant forces. As an application, the production of a solid-state lighting panel is discussed, involving a novel approach to apply a conductive layer through lamination.

Effective collection and detection of airborne species using SERS-based detection and localized electrodynamic precipitation.

Three different delivery concepts (standard diffusion, global electrodynamic precipitation, and localized nanolens-based precipitation) and three different SERS enhancement layers (a silver film, a nanolens-based localized silver nanoparticle film, and the standard AgFON) are compared. The nanolens concept is applied to increase the SERS signal: a factor of 633, when compared to a standard mechanism of diffusion, is observed.

Effective localized collection and identification of airborne species through electrodynamic precipitation and SERS-based detection.

Various nanostructured sensor designs currently aim to achieve or claim single molecular detection by a reduction of the active sensor size. However, a reduction of the sensor size has the negative effect of reducing the capture probability considering the diffusion-based analyte transport commonly used. Here we introduce and apply a localized programmable electrodynamic precipitation concept as an alternative to diffusion. The process provides higher collection rates of airborne species and detection at lower concentration. As an example, we compare an identical nanostructured surfaced-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensor with and without localized delivery and find that the sensitivity and detection time is improved by at least two orders of magnitudes. Localized collection in an active-matrix array-like fashion is also tested, yielding hybrid molecular arrays on a single chip over a broad range of molecular weights, including small benzenethiol (110.18 Da) and 4-fluorobenzenethiol (128.17 Da), or large macromolecules such as anti-mouse IgG (~150 kDa).

A micro-thermoelectric gas sensor for detection of hydrogen and atomic oxygen.

This paper demonstrates the fabrication and performance of a micro-thermoelectric gas sensor for an effective and inexpensive gas analysis system. The proposed micro-thermoelectric gas sensor was fabricated by using a surface micromachining technique. The sensing mechanism, consisting of thermoelectric material and a novel metal catalyst, was fabricated on the highly thermally resistive layer for reduced heat transfer to the substrate allowing for a simple fabrication process. The micro-thermoelectric gas sensor detects target gas species by measuring the reaction heat of the catalytic reaction between the target gas and a novel metal catalyst using Cu-Bi thermopiles. The catalytic reaction occurs only on the hot junction of the sensing thermopile where the metal catalyst is deposited. In order to reduce the external thermal noise, a difference between the output voltage of the sensing and the reference thermopiles was measured by using a differential amplifier. The response of the fabricated sensor was linear to temperature difference. The fabricated sensor can be used to detect various concentrations of hydrogen and atomic oxygen, where the output voltage linearly increased with the gas concentration.