Continuous-wave and Transient Characteristics of Phosphorene Microwave Transistors

Few-layer phosphorene MOSFETs with 0.3-um-long gate and 15-nm-thick Al2O3 gate insulator was found to exhibit a forward-current cutoff frequency of 2 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency of 8 GHz after de-embedding for the parasitic capacitance associated mainly with the relatively large probe pads. The gate lag and drain lag of the transistor was found to be on the order of 1 us or less, which is consistent with the lack of hysteresis, carrier freeze-out or persistent photoconductivity in DC characteristics. These results confirm that the phosphorene MOSFET can be a viable microwave transistor for both small-signal and large-signal applications.Comment: Accepted for oral presentation at IMS 201

Island Size and Environment Dependence of Adatom Capture: CuyCo Islands on Ru(0001)

We quantify the rate of capture by Co islands on Ru(0001) of additionally deposited Cu atoms, using scanning tunneling microscopy. The dependence of the capture rates on Co-island size is shown to reflect larger island-free areas surrounding bigger islands, a feature neglected in mean-field treatments. We also find a strong direction dependence in Cu adatom capture, reflecting the local environment of individual islands. These features are elucidated by simulations and diffusion equation analyses

Study of aluminoborane compound AlB_4H_(11) for hydrogen storage

Aluminoborane compounds AlB_4H_(11), AlB_5H_(12), and AlB_6H_(13) were reported by Himpsl and Bond in 1981, but they have eluded the attention of the worldwide hydrogen storage research community for more than a quarter of a century. These aluminoborane compounds have very attractive properties for hydrogen storage: high hydrogen capacity (i.e., 13.5, 12.9, and 12.4 wt % H, respectively) and attractive hydrogen desorption temperature (i.e., AlB_4H_(11) decomposes at ~125 °C). We have synthesized AlB_4H_(11) and studied its thermal desorption behavior using temperature-programmed desorption with mass spectrometry, gas volumetric (Sieverts) measurement, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Rehydrogenation of hydrogen-desorbed products was performed and encouraging evidence of at least partial reversibility for hydrogenation at relatively mild conditions is observed. Our chemical analysis indicates that the formula for the compound is closer to AlB_4H_(12) than AlB_4H_(11)

Scanning Microwave Microscopy of Aluminum CMOS Interconnect Lines Buried in Oxide and Water

Using a scanning microwave microscope, we imaged in water aluminum interconnect lines buried in aluminum and silicon oxides fabricated through a state-of-the-art 0.13 um SiGe BiCMOS process. The results were compared with that obtained by using atomic force microscopy both in air and water. It was found the images in water was degraded by only approximately 60% from that in air.Comment: 3 pages, 5 figures, conferenc

A Mechanism Misregulating p27 in Tumors Discovered in a Functional Genomic Screen

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1 is a tumor suppressor gene in mice, and loss of p27 protein is a negative prognostic indicator in human cancers. Unlike other tumor suppressors, the p27 gene is rarely mutated in tumors. Therefore misregulation of p27, rather than loss of the gene, is responsible for tumor-associated decreases in p27 protein levels. We performed a functional genomic screen in p27+/− mice to identify genes that regulate p27 during lymphomagenesis. This study demonstrated that decreased p27 expression in tumors resulted from altered transcription of the p27 gene, and the retroviral tagging strategy enabled us to pinpoint relevant transcription factors. inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (Id3) was isolated and validated as a transcriptional repressor of p27. We further demonstrated that p27 was a downstream target of Id3 in src-family kinase Lck-driven thymic lymphomagenesis and that p27 was an essential regulator of Lck-dependent thymic maturation during normal T-cell development. Thus, we have identified and characterized transcriptional repression of p27 by Id3 as a new mechanism decreasing p27 protein in tumors

Development of Thermal Protection Materials for Future Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Systems

Entry Systems will play a crucial role as NASA develops the technologies required for Human Mars Exploration. The Exploration Technology Development Program Office established the Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Technology Development Project to develop Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials for insertion into future Mars Entry Systems. An assessment of current entry system technologies identified significant opportunity to improve the current state of the art in thermal protection materials in order to enable landing of heavy mass (40 mT) payloads. To accomplish this goal, the EDL Project has outlined a framework to define, develop and model the thermal protection system material concepts required to allow for the human exploration of Mars via aerocapture followed by entry. Two primary classes of ablative materials are being developed: rigid and flexible. The rigid ablatives will be applied to the acreage of a 10x30 m rigid mid L/D Aeroshell to endure the dual pulse heating (peak approx.500 W/sq cm). Likewise, flexible ablative materials are being developed for 20-30 m diameter deployable aerodynamic decelerator entry systems that could endure dual pulse heating (peak aprrox.120 W/sq cm). A technology Roadmap is presented that will be used for facilitating the maturation of both the rigid and flexible ablative materials through application of decision metrics (requirements, key performance parameters, TRL definitions, and evaluation criteria) used to assess and advance the various candidate TPS material technologies