Applied Materials

ZnBi2O4/r-GO nanocomposites were developed by decorating zinc bismuthate (ZnBi2O4) nanoparticles on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) sheets was synthesized by sol-gel and sodium borohydride reduction methods for adsorption of CBBR-250. The average crystallite size of pristine ZnBi2O4 (27 nm) is reduced in ZnBi2O4/r-GO (24 nm) with specific surface area of ZnBi2O4/r-GO (6.88 m²/g). TEM showed ZnBi2O4 nanoparticles (37 nm) sitting on the surface of r-GO sheets. HRTEM showed formation of lattice fringes with interplanar spacing of 0.535 nm corresponding to (201) plane of ZnBi2O4. The CBBR-250 adsorption process obeys the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R² ≥ 0.99) and equilibrium removal capacities (qe) of ZnBi2O4 and ZnBi2O4/r-GO nanocomposite were found to be 6.17 mg/g and 9.34 mg/g respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities (qm) were calculated by the Langmuir isotherms model and found to be 13. 36 mg/g and 22.10 mg/g. The thermodynamics parameters showed that the adsorption process occurred spontaneously with an exothermic nature. Dye removal efficiency decreased with the increasing pH of the solution, showing maximum efficiency at pH 2. The presence of coexisting NO3⁻, and PO4³⁻ ions increases the adsorption capacity. After five reusability runs the nanocomposite maintains its adsorbing/desorbing properties for removal of CBBR-250 dye.

In this work, a methodology to perform industrial customized wafer dose patterning on CMOS devices integrated in a flash technology is presented. The first step consists of a “corner-like” process at the wafer level to determine the sensitivity of the MOS saturation current (Idsat) to pocket implant doses using parametric testing (PT) and the sensitivity of Ring Oscillator (RO) frequency to pocket implant doses using electrical wafer sorting (EWS). The second step is the generation of customized wafer dose pattern based on comprehensive PT or EWS full stacked data maps. Sensitivity estimation for both strategies will be provided. The last step is the optimization of implantation parameters to improve pattern accuracy. The advantages and disadvantages of all these methods will be compared and discussed.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and explosive growth in applications utilizing vast amount of data, it is expected to usher in a new era of inflections in device technology. One of the key requirements to enable AI-based technology is high bandwidth memory devices with advanced processors. To meet these imminent challenges, there is a strong need for innovation and developing solutions for high-performing DRAM devices. In this paper, we present the latest developments on the plasma doping (PLAD) boron process that yields higher dopant retention with reduced damage. This is expected to significantly reduce the contact resistance (Rc) and improve Ion performance for DRAM peri-transistors. We have also evaluated effect of advanced anneal schemes, to further optimize the dopant profile. As DRAM devices continue to scale, reducing the Xj while maintaining high surface dopant conc. for superior Rc is critical for achieving desired performance for AI devices.

The pressure-induced birefringence of side-hole fibers has been widely explored for hydrostatic pressure measurement. This paper studies the effects of the initial birefringence of a side-hole fiber on the pressure response of polarimetric sensors based on side-hole fibers. A mathematical model, where the stress field induced by the pressure is assumed to be uniform in the core region of the fiber, was established to calculate the birefringence and optical axis rotation as a function of the differences between the two principal stress components of the stress field in the core region. Simulation results show that when there is misalignment between the initial birefringence axes and the principal axes of the stress field, pressure changes cause rotations of the birefringence axis, leading to complicated and nonlinear changes of birefringence as a function of pressure. Experiments were conducted using fiber-Bragg-grating-based resonators on side-hole fibers with different initial birefringence, and the results agree well with the simulation. The results underscore the importance of the control of magnitude and direction of the initial birefringence of the side-hole fiber and provide guidelines for the design and fabrication of side-hole fiber pressure sensors.

This paper introduces a novel Super Junction (SJ) design enabled by VIISta ® PLAD ™ to address the scaling challenges of traditional SJ structures in power semiconductor devices. For the first time, this work realizes the SJ concept using the plasma doping (PLAD) and demonstrates the electrical result in the power device field. Spreading Resistance Profiling and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry analysis demonstrated PLAD’s capability to create shallow (0.1 μm) implant depth and tune dopant profiles along the sidewalls of the trench with High Aspect Ratios (HAR). Electrical testing of fabricated devices showed a Breakdown Voltage of 145 V, a significant improvement over non-PLAD samples. PLAD’s ability to achieve shallow junctions and control dopant profiles with HAR trenches offers a promising pathway for scaling down SJ devices and simplifying fabrication processes.

Cancer, a leading global cause of death, presents considerable treatment challenges due to resistance to conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11), which plays a pivotal role in cell cycle regulation and transcription, is overexpressed in various cancers and is linked to poor prognosis. This study focused on identifying potential inhibitors of CDK11 using computational drug discovery methods. Techniques such as pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, molecular docking, ADMET predictions, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy analysis were applied to screen a large natural product database. Three pharmacophore models were validated, leading to the identification of several promising compounds with stronger binding affinities than the reference inhibitor. ADMET profiling indicated favorable drug-like properties, while molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability and favorable interactions of top candidates with CDK11. Binding free energy calculations further revealed that UNPD29888 exhibited the strongest binding affinity. In conclusion, the identified compound shows potential as a CDK11 inhibitor based on computational predictions, suggesting their future application in cancer treatment by targeting CDK11. These computational findings encourage further experimental validation as anti-cancer agents.

Minor fluctuations in the tempering process of architectural glass lead to residual stress differences resulting in birefringence and undesired optical iridescence, also known as anisotropy effects. The control of anisotropies, which are quantified as optical retardation, is limited to monolithic glass. In modern architecture, laminated glass panes consisting of an interlayer of polyvinyl butyral or ionomer (SentryGlas®) are frequently applied. In this paper, photoelastic studies are performed on laminated glass panes before and after the lamination process to evaluate their effect and to investigate the influence of the superposition of different orientated glass panes. An influence from the interlayer is not markedly evident. Aside from a few outliers, there are percentage deviations of less than 6% in the 95% quantile value. The influence of the retardation pattern of the individual sheets is significant; depending on their position in the furnace, the superposition of the individual glass sheets results in a dot-shaped or a strip-shaped pattern. The experiments have demonstrated that retardation can be cumulative or reduced depending on the azimuth angle of the individual retardation value. Finally, six glass panes were installed in an outdoor test rig to observe the optical appearance under various light condition and different viewing points. Here, a correlation of the findings from the previous retardation measurements is clearly revealed.

Natural phytoconstituents have emerged as potential alternatives to the synthetic drugs, particularly in the treatment of chronic diseases. Genistein (GEN) is a bioflavonoid with potential biological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it faces limitations like water insolubility and slow dissolution in gastric fluids. p-Sulfocalix[4]arene (SC[4]A), a macrocyclic supramolecule, is being studied for its potential to improve hydrophobic drug properties. In this work, a host–guest inclusion complex (GEN-SC[4]A) was prepared by the solvent evaporation method and analyzed by FTIR, NMR, UV–Vis, DLS, TEM, and DSC techniques. The complex showed concentration, and pH-dependent solubility enhancement showed ~ 31 times more solubility at pH 10 and 8 mM concentration of SC[4]A), thus improving its dissolution. The therapeutic efficacy of native GEN, including its cytotoxicity against A549 cells, was increased after complex formation. The AO/EtBr staining study showed more apoptosis-mediated anticancer activity than pure GEN. This analytical approach offered insights into various aspects, including molecular geometry, stabilizing interactions, release behaviour, and the unwinding pathway of the prepared complex. The computational study, using extended umbrella sampling, supported the experimental findings. Consequently, the GEN-SC[4]A complex emerges as a promising and efficient carrier for the delivery of phytochemicals.

The quest for sustainable and eco-friendly chemical processes has driven the exploration of greener synthetic methodologies for the development of biologically potent scaffolds. In this study, we aimed to design an efficient and sustainable synthetic route for the generation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives, which are recognized for their significant pharmacological properties. Meglumine as a low-cost, reusable, and eco-benign catalyst was used in a one-pot, three-component reaction using Meldrum’s acid, substituted aldehydes, and 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine at room temperature. This method afforded 15 derivatives, including six new compounds, with excellent yields (82–96%) within just 5–25 min. The synthesized compounds were well corroborated using spectral analysis. The method entails several benefits including the use of an eco-friendly catalyst, simple separation, and reusability over five cycles, gram-scale synthesis, and favorable green chemistry metrics. Additionally, the in silico studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potential of the synthesized compounds. The compounds were docked within the binding site of the selected PDBs, 3G3N (cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibition) and 7F2W (Gout therapy). The present work introduces these compounds as future anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents. Graphical abstract

Prerequisites for the goal of studying long-lived, magnetically confined, electron–positron pair plasmas in the laboratory include the injection of both species into the trap, long trapping times, and suitable diagnostic methods. Here we report recent progress on these tasks achieved in a simple dipole trap based on a supported permanent magnet. For the injection of electrons, both an $\textbf{E}\times B$ E × B drift technique (of a $\sim$ ∼ 2– \upmu μ A, 6-eV beam) and “edge injection” (from a filament emitting a few mA and biased to some tens of volts) have been demonstrated; the former is suitable for low-density beams with smaller spatial and velocity spreads, while the latter employs fluctuations arising from collective behavior. To diagnose the edge-injected electrons, image potentials and currents induced on a wall probe, the magnet case, and wall electrodes were measured. Confinement of drift-injected positrons, measured experimentally, exhibited at least two well-separated timescales. Simulations reproduced this qualitatively, using a simple model of elastic collisions with residual background gas, and point to small adjustments for increasing trapping times. In a major upgrade to diagnostic capabilities, 25 bismuth germanate detectors, placed in three reentrant ports, are able to localize annihilation gammas, which will be used in future experiments to distinguish between different loss channels. Graphical abstract

This article discusses the characteristics of an Ar/CF4 capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) excited using 40 MHz sinusoidal and 800 kHz rectangular voltage waveforms. The simulations focus on the effect of the low frequency (LF) rectangular wave duty cycle (defined as the period at negative voltage) on the plasma properties and uniformity for constant 100 W power at 40 MHz and 20 mTorr gas pressure. Given the importance of kinetic effects in low pressure CCPs, a hybrid plasma model is used. This model treats electrons as particles using the particle-in-cell formalism while ions and neutral species are represented as fluids. By incorporating electron kinetic effects, this approach allows for the accurate modeling of low-pressure CCPs with complex plasma chemistries. Results show that, at 80% duty cycle, the peak in the density of all species is near the edge of the electrodes. As the LF rectangular wave duty cycle is decreased while keeping the 40 MHz power fixed, the species’ densities increase, the 40 MHz radio-frequency voltage decreases, and the peak in species’ densities shifts towards the chamber center. These trends can be explained based on how the LF voltage modulates the coupling of 40 MHz power to the electrons. Under the conditions considered, the plasma is mostly produced through electron stochastic heating at the sheath edge by the 40 MHz voltage. The 40 MHz couples to the electrons more efficiently when the LF voltage at the powered electrode sheath is small and the sheath is thin. The plasma is produced relatively uniformly in the inter-electrode region during this phase. Therefore, at small duty cycles when the powered electrode sheath is thin for a long time, the plasma is uniform and requires a smaller 40 MHz voltage to deposit 100 W at 40 MHz in the plasma. When the LF voltage in the powered electrode sheath is large and negative, plasma production is weak and occurs at the edge of the powered electrode where the sheath is thinner. At large duty cycles, the plasma is efficiently produced for only a short period, necessitating a larger 40 MHz voltage. The plasma density also peaks near the electrode edge at large duty cycles.

Anion sensing represents a significant challenge in modern day due to the essential roles that anion play in environmental, biological, and industrial processes. Developing effective and selective sensors for anion is crucial for chemical analysis, and environmental monitoring. Here, we report density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent-density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations to investigate the cyanide anion sensing mechanism of the Dicyanovinyl-substituted Benzofurazan derivative (C1). Thermodynamic parameters, such as free-energy and binding-energy change revealed the feasibility of cyanide anion addition to the molecule C1. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis indicated the absence of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in C1, however, upon cyanide addition (C1CN), the shift in electron density suggests the presence of ICT. Furthermore, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis identifies the atom C15 as the optimal site for anion addition. This work provides detailed insights into the sensing mechanism of C1 molecule, highlighting its potential as a selective sensor for cyanide anions.

Electron-spin qubits are among the most promising platforms for the realization of a large-scale quantum computer. Physical limitations dictate their operation at cryogenic temperatures, in practice often well below 1 K. This requirement implies the employment of a refrigerator featuring long cooldown times and the need for die packaging, thereby strongly limiting the number of devices that can be measured simultaneously. In our work, we evaluate traditional transistor metrics to enable fast wafer-level screening of electron-spin qubit devices above cryogenic temperatures. To the best of our knowledge, a clear link between quantum dot metrics measured below 2 K and traditional transistor metrics measured at higher temperatures has not yet been identified. In this paper, we study the correlation between 10 mK measurements in the few-electron regime, and traditional transistor metrics at different temperatures. We observe a strong correlation up to 77 K, while correlations at higher temperatures are much less pronounced. We analyze this poor correlation via room-temperature TCAD simulations, showing that the underlying physics changes due to a considerable contribution of the substrate current to the device’s off current above 77 K.

This chapter explores the applications of Digital Twins in smart semiconductor manufacturing, highlighting their potential to drive a more sustainable industry. Digital Twins enable advanced monitoring of chemical and energy consumption, as well as other environmental impacts within semiconductor fabrication processes. The chapter reviews various initiatives and applications that utilize Digital Twins for smart monitoring and provides guidance on extending these efforts to further optimize semiconductor manufacturing. This includes enhancing device performance, yield, and cost of ownership, while minimizing environmental impact. The chapter concludes that achieving truly smart manufacturing requires a holistic approach focused on optimizing specific equipment design and processes (such as deposition, etch, lithography, chemical mechanical planarization) and fostering cohesive collaboration among stakeholders from academia and industry. Addressing the gaps in understanding physics, chemistry, sensor technology, software infrastructure, data security, and establishing universal standards and protocols for data sharing and integration are essential for realizing the full potential of Digital Twins in the semiconductor industry.

It is often argued that the Planck length (or mass) is the scale of quantum gravity, as shown by comparing the Compton length with the gravitational radius of a particle. However, the Compton length is relevant in scattering processes but does not play a significant role in bound states. We will derive a possible ground state for a dust ball composed of a large number of quantum particles entailing a core with the size of a fraction of the horizon radius. This suggests that quantum gravity becomes physically relevant for systems with compactness of order one for which the nonlinearity of General Relativity cannot be discarded. A quantum corrected geometry can then be obtained from the effective energy-momentum tensor of the core or from quantum coherent states for the effective gravitational degrees of freedom. These descriptions replace the classical singularity of black holes with integrable structures in which tidal forces remain finite and there is no inner Cauchy horizon. The extension to rotating systems is briefly mentioned.

Bi2O3 microrods were synthesized by co-precipitation method at pH 13 and temperature 80 °C. The synthesized sample shows crystallite size 36.02 nm, a specific surface area 1.865 m²/g, and pore size 15 nm. SEM and TEM images show formation of microrods with dimension of 3 µm (diameter) × 23 μm (length). HRTEM reveals lattice fringes with interplanar spacing of 0.197 nm corresponding to the (041) plane. Optical and electrochemical studies reveal band gap 2.53 eV, a flat-band potential + 0.56 V, conduction and valence band position at + 0.36 V, + 2.89 V respectively. α-Bi2O3 was used to degrade reactive blue dye-4 (RB-4) under natural sunlight irradiation, achieving 97% removal within one hour. Dye degradation decreased with the increasing pH of the solution, showing maximum efficiency at pH 3. The degradation follows first order kinetics with a rate constant 0.561 min⁻¹. The degradation efficiency varies in the presence of anions, following order: Br⁻ < Cl⁻ < NO3⁻ < COO⁻ < PO4³⁻. Scavenger experiments indicates that OH⋅ and h⁺ are active species involved in the RB-4 degradation. Regeneration of the photocatalyst was carried out by washing with distilled water shows 10% decrease in the degradation efficiency after four consecutive runs.

We report a high-performance dual-gate, dual-sweep (DS) a-IZO/a-IGZTO TFT with high field-effect mobility (μ _FE ) of 65 cm ² /V.s, threshold voltage (V _TH ) of 0.4V, subthreshold swing (SS) of 0.23 V/dec and high on/off current ratio of 10 ⁷ . A systematic study on the bias stress effect has been carried out by making accumulation or depletion at the interface with bottom gate (BG) or top gate (TG) bias. Technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation results fitted well with measurement data using the density of states for a-IZO and a-IGZTO. Positive-bias temperature stability tests were conducted at 60°C for 1 hr using a +20V stress voltage, based on the V _TH , showed negligible V _TH shift for all bias stress cases. These results suggest that the a-IZO/a-IGZTO TFT, with its high mobility with excellent stability, could be suitable for large area AMOLED displays.