Nanodevice Floating Gate Charge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to control the state of electric charge of metal nanoparticles and induce changes in their charge state by approximately half of the elementary charge within a single device.
Innovation Solution
A nanodevice with nanogap electrodes and a plurality of gate electrodes, where at least one gate electrode functions as a floating gate to control the electric charge state of a nanoparticle, utilizing voltage ranges that correspond to Coulomb oscillation peaks and gradients to alter the current flow between electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a metal nanoparticle is placed between nanogap electrodes, then switching and memory functions are achieved, but the state of electric charge of the nanoparticle cannot be controlled within a single device
Solution Approach 1:
The gate electrode is divided into multiple independent gate electrodes (first gate electrode and second gate electrode), each capable of independently controlling the charge state of the nanoparticle. This segmentation allows precise control of the nanoparticle's electric charge state through separate voltage applications to each gate electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
A floating gate electrode is introduced as an intermediary element between the control gate electrode and the nanoparticle. The floating gate accumulates electric charge that indirectly modulates the nanoparticle's charge state, enabling continuous and arbitrary control of the charge state through charge accumulation on the floating gate.
2Measurement precision
If conventional gate electrodes are used, then device structure is simple, but the electric charge state cannot be changed by approximately half of the elementary charge
Solution Approach 1:
The gate electrode is divided into multiple independent gate electrodes (first gate electrode and second gate electrode), each capable of independently controlling the charge state of the nanoparticle. This segmentation allows precise control of the nanoparticle's electric charge state through separate voltage applications to each gate electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating gate electrode provides dynamic control capability, where the accumulated charge on the floating gate can be continuously adjusted by the control gate voltage. This dynamic charge accumulation mechanism enables continuous modulation of the nanoparticle's charge state with precision of approximately half of the elementary charge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables arbitrary control of the nanoparticle's electric charge state, allowing for multivalued memory and rewritable logical operations, suitable for energy-saving single-electron flash memory and logical operations.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage to be applied to the floating gate falls within a range between a peak state and a bottom state of Coulomb oscillation
Implementation Method 2
due to Coulomb repulsion among electrons, conductance of the current path changes, generating memory effect
Data Source
AI summary
A nanodevice capable of controlling the state of electric charge of a metal nanoparticle is provided. The device includes: nanogap electrodes 5 including one electrode 5A and the other electrode 5B disposed so as to have a nanosize gap in between; a nanoparticle 7 placed between the nanogap electrodes 5; and a plurality of gate electrodes 9. At least one of the plurality of gate electrodes 9 is used as a floating gate electrode to control the state of electric charge of the nanoparticle 7, which achieves a multivalued memory and rewritable logical operation.