August 09 ElectroIndustry - 6

Nanoscale Contacts Form the Bridge— A Market-Pull Approach for Nanoelectrotechnical Businesses HERBERT BENNETT PHD, SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS DIVISION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) Standardizing the methods used to assess performance, reliability, and durability of nanoscale contacts—be they electrical, magnetic, optical, physical, chemical, or combinations of these properties—is one of the most daunting challenges facing successful commercialization of nanoelectrotechnical based products. Meeting this challenge is vital for reliable interfaces between nanoscale subassemblies and end-use products. Nanoscale contacts are expected to present challenges for many nanoelectrotechnology applications (see page 10). Many metrology tools require improved standards for assessing the performance, reliability, and durability of nanoscale contacts. In principle, these tools could require future action by IEC TC 113. The challenge for IEC TC 113 is to work under appropriate business models to facilitate mass commercialization of reliable and durable products that contain nanoscale subassemblies. Efforts on nanoelectrotechnologies within TC 113 will likely occur in the context of one or more of the following three business models: traditional; technology-push—a solution looking for a problem or markets; and market-pull—penetrating existing markets or meeting customer demands for increased functionality. The traditional model starts with research and development (R&D) supported, in part, by grants that introduce new technologies for prototype product development and then build manufacturing capacity for initial deployments and finally high- volume commercialization. This model may not be appropriate for nanoelectrotechnologies because it is very capital intensive and takes too long for commercialization by investors. In the technology-push model, R&D can lead to new discoveries and technologies that could have phenomenal commercial success or may remain as an interesting technology “sitting on a shelf.” This model faces commercialization challenges. For one, it usually takes a very long time to integrate a specific nanoelectromaterial into large-scale industrial processes that customers appreciate and want. Another is that the market for specific nanoelectromaterials is limited even though the market for the application of the related technology may be large. Finally, considerable costs are associated with scaling from R&D prototype volumes to high-volume commercial manufacturing. Unlike the traditional and technologypush models, however, the market-pull model emphasizes what the customer wants and/or on increased value-added functionality for a given application. A market-pull model uses core competencies in nanoelectrotechnologies to penetrate existing markets and develop nanoelectrotechnical subassemblies directed at increasing functionality with lower costper-function for specific applications. Large nanoelectrotechnical subassembly portfolios are built for a positive revenue stream and a reasonable portion of profits are invested to develop unique processing capabilities that will maintain a diverse portfolio while manufacturing some high-volume nanoelectrotechnical subassemblies. Joint ventures and So What is Nanotechnology? The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) defines nanotechnology as “…the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. ….Dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers are known as the nanoscale.” NNI goes on to say, “Unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties can emerge in materials at the nanoscale. These properties may differ in important ways from the properties of bulk materials and single atoms or molecules.” ei 6 NEMA electroindustry • August 09

August 09 ElectroIndustry

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 09 ElectroIndustry