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Boost for nanotechnology collaborations
Faster semiconductors on the northwest horizon Oak Ridge National Laboratory (0RNL), Motorola Labs and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have entered a cooperative research and development agreement to pursue research aimed at increasing the speed of integrated circuits (ICs). Scientists from the three institutions will look at new materials with high dielectric constants (or high-k materials) to be used as effective gate insulators at dimensions of less than 20/~. Current ICs use a 35 A layer of silicon dioxide as gates - to control the flow of electrons across the transistor. As chips get smaller, the gate thickness is also thinned - at the current rate, industry experts expect that gate thickness will need to approach 10/~ in the next ten years. By the end of 2002, gate thickness of only 20 A will be in demand - but silicon dioxide is unable to provide effective insulation at these dimensions because of quantum tunneling currents. ORNL, Motorola and PNNL will
focus on crystalline oxides during the three-year project. The first phase will transfer 0RNL's patented crystalline oxide on silicon process to Motorola Labs and PNNL. Phase 2 will test and optimize the process to evaluate critical performance and processing issues. Ultimately, if the technology proves successful, Motorola will tailor and implement the process. "By using crystalline oxides, we're able to eliminate one of the hurdles to continuing the current rate of growth in the semiconductor industry," says Rodney McKee of ORNL's Metals and Ceramics Division. "Both ORNL and Motorola Labs have made promising progress in the past few years, and we look forward to evaluating the specifics of ORNI's technology," adds Bill Ooms, director of Materials, Device and Energy Research at Motorola Labs. For further information: http://www.ornl.gov http://www, pnl. gov http://www, motorola.corn
Boost for nanotechnology collaborations An £18 million boost for the UK's Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations initiative will benefit nanotechnology and bio-nanotechnology. Consortia to share this official science money are: for nanotechnology, Cambridge University with University College London and the University of Bristol; and for bio-nanotechnology, Oxford University, the Universities of Glasgow and York, and the National Institute for Medical Research, as well as Cambridge, Nottingham and Southampton Universities. Providing the funds are three government science research councils - the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotachnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), plus the Ministry of Defence. The funding is part of a drive to encourage researchers from different disciplines, institutions and departments to collaborate in new areas of science and technology. The two consortia,
selected from 16 proposals, will be supported with 'ring-fenced' funding for up to six years, after which other means of support will take over. Professor Mark Welland, head of the Nanoscale Science Laboratory in Cambridge University's Department of Engineering, believes that nanotechnology is a natural focus for this type of initiative, '~Fhe subject is unique in that it brings together all the scientific and engineering disciplines. The work should lead to significant scientific breakthroughs which would in turn fuel the diverse economic sectors that will be nanotechnology based in the future." Professor John Ryan, director of the Oxford-led bio-nanotechnology consortium, adds "Evolution in the natural world has produced an astonishing variety of biomolecular nanc-devices including molecular motors, ion channels, hormone receptors and photoreceptors. Our goal is to understand the structure and function of these biological devices and use nature's solutions in advancing science and engineering."
US and EU collaborate on fusion and non-nuclear energy US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and EU Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin have signed agreements to conduct joint research into non-nuclear and fusion energy. The former is the first major legally binding agency-to-agency agreement signed under the 1997 US/EU government Science and Technology Accord
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covering a wide range of potential co-operation in fossil fuel and renewable energies. Under immediate focus are fuel cell technology and carbon sequestration. "This arrangement provides us with an opportunity to pursue alternatives to our mounting energy demands and help secure our needs for the future," says Secretary Abraham. On the
fusion agreement, he adds, "We now look forward to continuing our many years of successful collaboration in the field of fusion research." Under the agreement the US Department of Energy will contribute $1.3 million over two years to develop hardware for use at the Joint European Torus {JET) fusion device in the UK. This will
enhance JET's performance and extend the scope of fusion science that can be explored. Other areas of co-operation may include tokamaks (the doughnutshaped magnetic confinement chambers), alternatives to tokamaks, magnetic fusion energy technology, plasma theory and applied plasma physics.
focus on crystalline oxides during the three-year project. The first phase will transfer 0RNL's patented crystalline oxide on silicon process to Motorola Labs and PNNL. Phase 2 will test and optimize the process to evaluate critical performance and processing issues. Ultimately, if the technology proves successful, Motorola will tailor and implement the process. "By using crystalline oxides, we're able to eliminate one of the hurdles to continuing the current rate of growth in the semiconductor industry," says Rodney McKee of ORNL's Metals and Ceramics Division. "Both ORNL and Motorola Labs have made promising progress in the past few years, and we look forward to evaluating the specifics of ORNI's technology," adds Bill Ooms, director of Materials, Device and Energy Research at Motorola Labs. For further information: http://www.ornl.gov http://www, pnl. gov http://www, motorola.corn
Boost for nanotechnology collaborations An £18 million boost for the UK's Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations initiative will benefit nanotechnology and bio-nanotechnology. Consortia to share this official science money are: for nanotechnology, Cambridge University with University College London and the University of Bristol; and for bio-nanotechnology, Oxford University, the Universities of Glasgow and York, and the National Institute for Medical Research, as well as Cambridge, Nottingham and Southampton Universities. Providing the funds are three government science research councils - the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Biotachnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), plus the Ministry of Defence. The funding is part of a drive to encourage researchers from different disciplines, institutions and departments to collaborate in new areas of science and technology. The two consortia,
selected from 16 proposals, will be supported with 'ring-fenced' funding for up to six years, after which other means of support will take over. Professor Mark Welland, head of the Nanoscale Science Laboratory in Cambridge University's Department of Engineering, believes that nanotechnology is a natural focus for this type of initiative, '~Fhe subject is unique in that it brings together all the scientific and engineering disciplines. The work should lead to significant scientific breakthroughs which would in turn fuel the diverse economic sectors that will be nanotechnology based in the future." Professor John Ryan, director of the Oxford-led bio-nanotechnology consortium, adds "Evolution in the natural world has produced an astonishing variety of biomolecular nanc-devices including molecular motors, ion channels, hormone receptors and photoreceptors. Our goal is to understand the structure and function of these biological devices and use nature's solutions in advancing science and engineering."
US and EU collaborate on fusion and non-nuclear energy US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and EU Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin have signed agreements to conduct joint research into non-nuclear and fusion energy. The former is the first major legally binding agency-to-agency agreement signed under the 1997 US/EU government Science and Technology Accord
18
mlzdal~oday Ju[ylAugust 2001
covering a wide range of potential co-operation in fossil fuel and renewable energies. Under immediate focus are fuel cell technology and carbon sequestration. "This arrangement provides us with an opportunity to pursue alternatives to our mounting energy demands and help secure our needs for the future," says Secretary Abraham. On the
fusion agreement, he adds, "We now look forward to continuing our many years of successful collaboration in the field of fusion research." Under the agreement the US Department of Energy will contribute $1.3 million over two years to develop hardware for use at the Joint European Torus {JET) fusion device in the UK. This will
enhance JET's performance and extend the scope of fusion science that can be explored. Other areas of co-operation may include tokamaks (the doughnutshaped magnetic confinement chambers), alternatives to tokamaks, magnetic fusion energy technology, plasma theory and applied plasma physics.