(1) Brief View of Materials Research in Functional Materials (2) Commercialization Processes Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Executive Director of Technology Commercialization Programs

Outline Mention of the projects in the Kingon research group, especially those related to NASA Few words on our technology commercialization programs

Mainstream Silicon Devices: Gate Dielectrics Development of new dielectrics to replace SiO2, and the gate metals Part of the NCSU-led Front End Process Center Primarily SRC/Sematech funded 9 universities, about 25 faculty

Ferroelectric Memory Development of ferroelectric thin films for ferroelectric nonvolatile memory Low density devices now in commercial production Many materials issues associated with the development of high density devices NCSU role –New materials –Advanced characterization techniques based upon scanning probes

Two Critical Core Competencies Dielectric and ferroelectric materials, especially thin films –Composite dielectrics –Materials such as (Ba,Sr)TiO3 (or ‘BST’) which are nonlinear dielectrics Flexible substrates –Metal –Polymer

Nonlinear Dielectrics for RF/Microwave Frontends Voltage tunable dielectrics Allows design of frequency agile front end systems –Varactors for band pass filters –Frequency tunable antenna systems –Different approaches for different frequencies (patch, microstrip, resonator, EBG)

High and Low Frequency Comparison Materials optimization based upon low f measurements Must justify applicability of method Permittivity Frequency (GHz) Permittivity Loss tangent · Applied Voltage (V) 100 kHz 100 MHz Planar capacitors measured at low and high frequencies. comparable Tunability and loss tangent values comparable Low frequency measurements are extendable to high frequency

Conventional Band Pass Filter Design Lumped element circuit 200 MHz Chebychev design

Conventional Filter Measurements 3rd order Band Pass Filter (measured) Frequency (MHz) Insertion Loss (dB) 0 V 5 V 3 V Frequency (MHz) Return Loss (dB) 0 V 5 V 3 V Results of NCSU filter analysis consistent with Raytheon measurements

Embedded Passive Components Composite dielectrics in polymer based flexible substrates (ie HDI) Replace surface mounted components Generation 2 commercialized (35 million cell phones) Generation 3 being scaled

Dielectrics on Flexible Substrates

Gossamer Qortek/PSU/NCSU Polymer-based actuators Flexible electronic circuit on Kapton/copper

Piezoelectric Applications Novel Cooling Concepts –Acoustic streaming –Development of acoustic resonators –Analytical modeling of piezoelectric actuators in bending mode

Flexible Sensor Networks US Air Force Project just initiating Strain, acceleration, pressure sensors on large flexible ‘tiles’ which are embedded onto wings structures Antenna array for data communication to the fuselage

Stressed Unimorphs Type of low cost bending mode piezoelectric actuator Long-term development of these materials at NASA-Langley (plus spin-out) We have developed applications for these types of actuators –DARPA microrobot program –Piezoelectric solid state motors

Rotary Thundermotor with Tachometer Wheel

GSFC Space Telescope Discussion only Need for shutter arrays

Part 2: Technology Commercialization Programs

Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Program Unique program Develops viable business propositions from technology sources Two routes –Using MBA and Ph.D science/engineering students in a 3 course sequence –Using professional business analysts NASA one of the sources of technology (eg Langley optical sensors

Program Uniqueness Process or methodology for the this “fuzzy front end” of innovation Emphasis on high tech, high growth potential

Program Impact Created > 400 jobs Raised more that $120 million of venture funding Assisted the business development of about 20 companies Many other outcomes url: