Characterization and Mitigation of Radiation Effects in Quantum Dot Based Nanotechnologies

For applications in DoD satellite systems, devices based on novel nanomaterials offer significant advantages over traditional technologies in terms of light-weight and efficiency. Examples of such novel devices include quantum dot (QD) based solar cells, photodetectors, radars and sensors. However, the response of these devices to radiation effects is not well understood, and radiation effects modeling tools are not yet available. To enable better characterization and mitigation of radiation effects in nano-technology microelectronics, CFDRC, in collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), proposes the following innovations: (a) Accurate and cost-effective modeling of radiation effects in advanced QD-based devices and circuits, enabled by enhancements to CFDRC’s NanoTCAD 3D/mixed-mode simulator; (b) New, more precise, charge generation models to complement the experimental techniques; and (c) Simulation-supported design and validation of minimally-invasive mitigation techniques for radiation effects in advanced QD-based solar cells and photodetectors. In Phase I, representative novel QD-based solar cells will be used for ‘proof-of-concept’ characterization of radiation effects (mostly displacement damage) by means of 3D/mixed-mode simulations, validated on relevant physical experiments from RIT. Plans for radiation-effects mitigation methods will be developed. In Phase II, the NanoTCAD simulator efficiency will be significantly improved by multi-scale (quantum-continuum-circuit) and behavioral modeling. Radiation effect models and mitigation methods for novel QD-based nanotechnologies important to DoD will be numerically explored, verified, and demonstrated.