(1) Brief View of Materials
Research in Functional Materials
(2) Commercialization Processes
Professor of Materials Science and
Engineering
Executive Director of Technology
Commercialization Programs
Email: Angus_kingon@ncsu.edu
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
200
4
160
3
120
100 kHz
2
80
1
-4
0
4
Applied Voltage (V)
8
-2
-8
0
300
Permittivity
5
Loss tangent · 10
Permittivity
100 MHz
250
200
150
100
50
10-4
10-3
10-2
10-1
100
101
Frequency (GHz)
• Planar capacitors measured at low and high frequencies.
• Tunability and loss tangent values comparable
• Low frequency measurements are extendable to high frequency
Conventional Band Pass Filter Design
BST Capacitors
(Top Electrode)
BST
Bondwires
Ground Plane for the BST capacitors
RF in + DC bias
(via a bias-tee)
RF out
Decoupling
Capacitors
Microstrip’s Ground Plane
Dielectric
Inductors
Connect decoupling
capacitors to the
ground
• Lumped element circuit
• 200 MHz Chebychev design
• 3rd order Band Pass Filter
(measured)
0
-5
-10
0V
-15
-20
3V
-25
-30
-35
5V
-40
0
100
200
300
400
Frequency (MHz)
500
Return Loss (dB)
Insertion Loss (dB)
Conventional Filter Measurements
0
-5
-10
-15
0V
-20
3V
-25
5V
-30
-35
-40
0
100
200
300
400
Frequency (MHz)
• Results of NCSU filter analysis
consistent with Raytheon measurements
500
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: www.tec.ncsu.edu