Patents by Inventor Robert Nemanich

Robert Nemanich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220336589
    Abstract: Electronic devices and more particularly diamond-based electronic devices and corresponding contact structures are disclosed. Electrical contact structures to diamond layers, including n-type, phosphorus doped single-crystal diamond are disclosed. In particular, electrical contact structures are formed through an arrangement of one or more nanostructured carbon layers with high nitrogen incorporation that are provided between metal contacts and n-type diamond layers in diamond-based electronic devices. Nanostructured carbon layers may be configured to mitigate reduced phosphorus incorporation in n-type diamond layers, thereby providing low specific contact resistances for corresponding devices. Diamond p-i-n diodes for direct electron emission applications are also disclosed that include electrical contact structures with nanostructured carbon layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Franz A. Koeck, Robert Nemanich
  • Patent number: 11380763
    Abstract: Electronic devices and more particularly diamond-based electronic devices and corresponding contact structures are disclosed. Electrical contact structures to diamond layers, including n-type, phosphorus doped single-crystal diamond are disclosed. In particular, electrical contact structures are formed through an arrangement of one or more nanostructured carbon layers with high nitrogen incorporation that are provided between metal contacts and n-type diamond layers in diamond-based electronic devices. Nanostructured carbon layers may be configured to mitigate reduced phosphorus incorporation in n-type diamond layers, thereby providing low specific contact resistances for corresponding devices. Diamond p-i-n diodes for direct electron emission applications are also disclosed that include electrical contact structures with nanostructured carbon layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Franz A. Koeck, Robert Nemanich
  • Patent number: 11152483
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for stabilizing electrical properties of a diamond semiconductor comprises terminating a surface of a diamond with hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) atoms and over-coating the surface of the diamond with an encapsulating material comprising metal oxide salt doped with one or more elements capable of generating negative charge in the metal oxide salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Geis, Joseph Varghese, Robert Nemanich
  • Patent number: 11063162
    Abstract: Diamond diode-based devices are configured to convert radiation energy into electrical current, useable for sensing (i.e., detection) or delivery to a load (i.e., energy harvesting). A diode-based detector includes an intrinsic diamond layer arranged between p-type diamond and n-type diamond layers, with the detector further including at least one of (i) a boron containing layer arranged proximate to the n-type and/or the intrinsic diamond layers, or (ii) an intrinsic diamond layer thickness in a range of 10 nm to 300 microns. A diode-based detector may be operated in a non-forward biased state, with a circuit used to transmit a current pulse in a forward bias direction to reset a detection state of the detector. An energy harvesting device may include at least one p-i-n stack (including an intrinsic diamond layer between p-type diamond and n-type diamond layers), with a radioisotope source arranged proximate to the at least one p-i-n stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jason M Holmes, Franz A Koeck, Manpuneet Benipal, Ricardo O Alarcon, Stephen Goodnick, Anna Zaniewski, Robert Nemanich
  • Publication number: 20210083070
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for stabilizing electrical properties of a diamond semiconductor comprises terminating a surface of a diamond with hydrogen (H) or deuterium (D) atoms and over-coating the surface of the diamond with an encapsulating material comprising metal oxide salt doped with one or more elements capable of generating negative charge in the metal oxide salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Geis, Joseph Varghese, Robert Nemanich
  • Publication number: 20200343344
    Abstract: Electronic devices and more particularly diamond-based electronic devices and corresponding contact structures are disclosed. Electrical contact structures to diamond layers, including n-type, phosphorus doped single-crystal diamond are disclosed. In particular, electrical contact structures are formed through an arrangement of one or more nanostructured carbon layers with high nitrogen incorporation that are provided between metal contacts and n-type diamond layers in diamond-based electronic devices. Nanostructured carbon layers may be configured to mitigate reduced phosphorus incorporation in n-type diamond layers, thereby providing low specific contact resistances for corresponding devices. Diamond p-i-n diodes for direct electron emission applications are also disclosed that include electrical contact structures with nanostructured carbon layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Franz A. Koeck, Robert Nemanich
  • Publication number: 20200119207
    Abstract: Diamond diode-based devices are configured to convert radiation energy into electrical current, useable for sensing (i.e., detection) or delivery to a load (i.e., energy harvesting). A diode-based detector includes an intrinsic diamond layer arranged between p-type diamond and n-type diamond layers, with the detector further including at least one of (i) a boron containing layer arranged proximate to the n-type and/or the intrinsic diamond layers, or (ii) an intrinsic diamond layer thickness in a range of 10 nm to 300 microns. A diode-based detector may be operated in a non-forward biased state, with a circuit used to transmit a current pulse in a forward bias direction to reset a detection state of the detector. An energy harvesting device may include at least one p-i-n stack (including an intrinsic diamond layer between p-type diamond and n-type diamond layers), with a radioisotope source arranged proximate to the at least one p-i-n stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jason M Holmes, Franz A Koeck, Maitreya Dutta, Manpuneet Benipal, Raghuraj Hathwar, Ricardo O Alarcon, Srabanti Chowdhury, Stephen Goodnick, Anna Zaniewski, Robert Nemanich
  • Patent number: 10418475
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, device, or vertical field effect transistor is comprised of a drain, a drift layer disposed in a first direction relative to the drain and in electronic communication with the drain, a barrier layer disposed in the first direction relative to the drift layer and in electronic communication with the drain, the barrier layer comprising a current blocking layer and an aperture region, a two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer disposed in the first direction relative to the barrier layer, a gate electrode oriented to alter an energy level of the aperture region when a gate voltage is applied to the gate electrode, and a source in ohmic contact with the two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer. At least one of an additional layer, the drain, the drift region, the current blocking layer, the two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer, and the aperture region comprises diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Srabanti Chowdhury, Maitreya Dutta, Robert Nemanich, Franz Koeck
  • Publication number: 20180151715
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, device, or vertical field effect transistor is comprised of a drain, a drift layer disposed in a first direction relative to the drain and in electronic communication with the drain, a barrier layer disposed in the first direction relative to the drift layer and in electronic communication with the drain, the barrier layer comprising a current blocking layer and an aperture region, a two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer disposed in the first direction relative to the barrier layer, a gate electrode oriented to alter an energy level of the aperture region when a gate voltage is applied to the gate electrode, and a source in ohmic contact with the two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer. At least one of an additional layer, the drain, the drift region, the current blocking layer, the two-dimensional hole gas-containing layer, and the aperture region comprises diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Srabanti Chowdhury, Maitreya Dutta, Robert Nemanich, Franz Koeck