A new technique for visualizing the electronic structure of microelectronic devices

London, July 20 (Reporter Tian Xue) Researchers from Warwick University and the University of Washington in the United Kingdom developed a technology to visualize the electronic structure of microelectronic devices for the first time, opening the door to the manufacture of two-dimensional semiconductors- High performance microelectronic devices with precise coordination.

The electronic structure of materials describes the behavior of electrons in materials, thus reflecting the properties of current flowing through materials. This behavior varies with the voltage applied to the material. The electronic structure that varies with the applied voltage determines the efficiency of the microelectronic circuit. The change of electronic structure in operating equipment is the basis of all modern electronic products, but so far, there is no way to directly see the specific situation of these changes to help people understand how they affect electronic behavior.

In order to intuitively observe and study the electron trajectories in microelectronic devices and optimize the functions of microelectronic devices, researchers have developed a new technology that can measure the energy and momentum of electrons when only atoms are used to manipulate so-called two-dimensional materials. Thickness. Visualization of photoelectric properties of materials. This technique uses angle resolved optical emission spectroscopy (ARPES) to "excite" electrons in selected materials. By focusing a UV or X-ray beam on an atom in a specific area, excited electrons are emitted from the atom. Then, researchers can measure the energy and direction of motion of electrons, calculate their energy and momentum in the material, and determine the electronic structure of the material. It can then be compared with theoretical predictions based on state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations.

Researchers believe that this technology can visualize the electronic structure of microelectronic devices, so that people can obtain the information needed to design high-performance components, thus generating more efficient and lower power electronic components. It also helps to develop two-dimensional semiconductors that are considered as potential components of next generation electronic products, and has wide applications in flexible electronics, optoelectronics and spintronics.