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(Formerly Thermal Electrical Nanoscale Transport (TENT))
Organization
Santa Clara University, School of Engineering
Project Leader
Cary Yang
Summary
The Center for Nanostructures (CNS) is a collaborative venture of the
School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences at Santa Clara University. Its integrated approach combines
interdisciplinary research spanning the diverse fields of nanoscale science and technology with a tightly coupled educational
program component. A focal point CNS activity, the U.S. Army-funded Thermal and Electrical Nanoscale Transport (TENT) project,
conducts research on electrical interconnects and thermal interfaces. A key goal is development of new technologies that
can be applied to the manufacture of current and future high-performance integrated circuits. This research may well yield
the enhanced performance and increased reliability integrated-circuit manufacturers require for their most advanced products.
Project Description
Current CNS research is focused on the design, fabrication and testing
of lightweight, low-resistance (electrical and thermal), longer-lasting chips using new, carbon-based interconnect and thermal-interface
materials. This work involves the design and fabrication of novel test structures (to allow process optimization and further understanding
of properties at interfaces), as well as the development of prototype circuits. Additional tasks include developing and testing
theoretical models of electrical and thermal transport in novel nanostructures in order to optimize the design of a prototype circuit
with improved electrical and thermal performance. Ultimately, CNS researchers anticipate producing circuit designs and prototypes with
high-component density, improved electrical interconnects, more efficient power requirements, better thermal margins and a reduced footprint.
Founded in 2003, the CNS leverages relationships with NASA Ames, Hitachi High-Technologies America, Stanford
University’s nanofabrication facility and the University of California, Santa Cruz. CNS’ precursor has been actively engaged in
advanced, integrated-circuit technology R&D for twenty years, producing models and software tools and validating these models.
A branch of the CNS has been located at NASA Ames since 2006. Through its ASL affiliation, CNS now can access a broader range of partner
opportunities and collaborations, shared resources and pooled expertise.
Sponsored by Santa Clara University, the Center for Nanostructures lead is that school’s Cary Yang.
Learn More
Check out the CNS web site at:
http://www.scu.edu/cns/
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