Current Research of Paul R. Berger

Current Research of Paul R. Berger, Professor

This is a collaborative effort involving the Ohio State University, the Naval Research Laboratory (Dr. Phillip E. Thompson and Dr. Karl D. Hobart), University of California at Riverside (Prof. Roger Lake). This work has resulted in peak-to-valley current ratios (PVCR) up to over 4.0 at room temperature and current densities which can be engineered from ultra-low, below 20 mA/cm², for memory applications, up to ultra-high, to well over 200 kA/cm², which are excellent for RF and mixed-signal applications. See our invention of the first Si-based resonant interband tunnel diode work and a more generic tunnel diode process which was highlighted at DARPA, as well as our improved RITD. Our device and process have now been replicated elsewhere around the world, thus it is readily transferable. Further news stories on this work are also available, including a Wall Street Journal report (p. 1).
PowerPoint Presentation of Our Resonant Interband Tunneling Diode Work (January 2005)
Si Tunnel Diode and CMOS/HBT Integration Workshop Sponsored by the SRC. Minutes of the Si Tunnel Diode and CMOS/HBT Integration Workshop (December 9, 1999)

The organic conducting polymer project spans a variety of topical areas to exploit the electronic and optoelectronic properties of organic conducting polymers. Most of the work published to date at Ohio State pertains to polymeric field effect transistors (PFET) and flexible organic gate dielectrics to be included in the PFETs. Other ongoing work is exploring polymer light emitting diodes, polymer solar cells and processing technologies. This area of research began as part of my 1998/1999 sabbatical leave, when I had the pleasure to work with three of the premier research institutions in the world in this new field.

This project will demonstrate the validity of nanoscale computing by developing a process technology to fashion quantum dots of a predictable size, shape and placement, suitable for mass production and simple electrical contact or sensing. Applications include nanoscale resonant tunneling diodes (RTD), single-electron transistors (SET), and quantum cellular automata (QCA).
Strong interactions between Ohio State, Illinois, Notre Dame, UC Riverside, iand the Naval Research Laboratory (Dr. Phillip E. Thompson) will foster open discussion, dialogue, and interdisciplinary student training. This proposal seeks to bring together electrical engineers, material scientists, physicists, computer scientists, experimentalists, and theoreticians for the sole purpose of realizing nanostructured quantum dot switching elements. Undergraduate research will play a significant role at Ohio State and Notre Dame. The cross-disciplinary work and site visits to each other will enhance the educational process.

This project demonstrates Si-based sensors with high room temperature curvature coefficient which is suitable for seamless integration with Si readout circuitry for passive millimeter-wave detection of reflected RF energy for deetction of concealed weapons and pilot assistance through rain, fog and smoke.

This project examines quantum functional devices in the conjugated polymer system for molecular electronic devices and circuits.

Novel SiGeCSn cubic alloys is ever expanding and takes on many facets. See our GeC photodiode work highlighted at Avtech Electrosystems, EE Times, and if you are an IEEE member, check out the IEEE Spectrum May 1998 issue (Innovations section, p. 72).

The MSM photodiode work is currently on hold and is awaiting an interested student to renew these efforts.

It was shown that rare earth elements getter impurities within the liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) melt and precipitate out as a slag that does not incorporate into the epitaxial layer. Epitaxial growth quality and purity is greatly enhanced without any measurable incorporation of rare earth elements into the epitaxial layer.
The LPE study using rare earth treatments has now drawn to a successful conclusion.

The CVD nitride project realized single crystalline, stoichiometric GaN. It was a collaborative project involving Prof. Klaus Theopold of the Chemistry Department at the University of Delaware.