Abstract: A device for detecting environmental contaminants, diseases, and acute medical conditions related to heart failure identifies pathogens or troponins before infection or damage to heart muscles using an ultrasensitive high Q-factor AT-cut quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) that can measure from a single pg to a single fg. The device has a set of five disks of a QCM with a 10 mm diameter and a full coated bottom electrode, with an upper electrode with a center dot with different diameters labelled as 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm. The full coating denoting an electrically continuous thickness of at last one monolayer. Measured parameters from the five disks include Q-factors, impedance, dissipation factors (D) and frequency shift (?f). Q-factors are used to calculate the Allman deviation ?(?) and measured frequencies are converted to mass sensitivity using the Sauerbrey mass sensitivity coefficient (K).

Abstract: A measurement probe system is provided that includes a housing, a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) mass sensor in the housing, a first cover and a second cover attached to the ends of the housing. A chamber is defined between the housing, the mass sensor, and the second cover. An electrical input in electrical communication with the mass sensor and an electrical output in electrical communication with the second cover are also included. The measurement probe system is used to detect nanoparticle levels in an ionic solution includes inputting an ionic solution sample into the chamber, applying a frequency from a signal generator to the QCM via the electrical input, detecting frequency noises with the second cover and transmitting those frequency noises to a frequency counter via the electrical output, and assessing the level of nanoparticles present in the sample based on the frequency measured by the frequency counter.

Abstract: A device for cost-effective and sensitive diagnostics is provided to detect environmental contaminants, diseases, and acute medical conditions related to heart failure. The device identifies pathogens or troponins before infection or damage to heart muscles using an ultrasensitive high Q-factor AT-cut quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) that can measure from a single pg to a single fg. The device has a set of five disks of a QCM with a 10 mm diameter and a full coated bottom electrode, with an upper electrode with a center dot with different diameters labelled as 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm. The full coating denoting an electrically continuous thickness of at least one monolayer. Measured parameters from the five disks illustratively include Q-factors, impedance, dissipation factors (D) and frequency shift (?f). Q-factors are used to calculate the Allan deviation ?(?) and measured frequencies are converted to mass sensitivity using the Sauerbrey mass sensitivity coefficient (K).

Abstract: A Schottky source-gated thin film transistor is provided including: a drain contact; an insulating substrate; a source contact made of a Schottky metal; a channel connecting the buried source contact to the drain, the channel made of ZnO; and a Schottky source barrier formed between the source contact and the channel; and a gate; wherein the source contact is positioned below the channel.

Abstract: A Schottky source-gated thin film transistor is provided including: a drain contact; an insulating substrate; a source contact made of a Schottky metal; a channel connecting the buried source contact to the drain, the channel made of ZnO; and a Schottky source barrier formed between the source contact and the channel; and a gate; wherein the source contact is positioned below the channel.

Abstract: A system and method of non-contact measurement of the dopant content of semiconductor material by reflecting infrared (IR) radiation off of the material and splitting the radiation into two beams, passing each beam through pass band filters of differing wavelength ranges, comparing the level of energy passed through each filter and calculating the dopant content by referencing a correlation curve made up of known wafer dopant content for that system.

Abstract: A system and method of non-contact measurement of the dopant content of semiconductor material by reflecting infrared (IR) radiation off of the material and splitting the radiation into two beams, passing each beam through pass band filters of differing wavelength ranges, comparing the level of energy passed through each filter and calculating the dopant content by referencing a correlation curve made up of known wafer dopant content for that system.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a portable or handheld device for performing NMR analysis. The device comprises a console and a strip which can be placed into the console through a slot or other means. The strip comprises a sample holding place and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across a sample in the sample holding space. A permanent magnet is provided either by the console or the strip and generates a static magnetic field which, together with the excitation magnetic field, creates NMR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention also encompass method of performing NMR analysis using the portable device and method of making such devices.

Abstract: A method includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including at least one contact opening; forming an interconnect in the contact opening; and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. A method including forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including a dielectric layer and a contact opening, depositing a conductive material in the contact opening, removing the conductive material sufficient to expose the barrier layer on the substrate surface, and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. An apparatus including a circuit substrate including at least one active layer including at least one contact point, a dielectric layer on the at least one active layer, a barrier layer on a surface of the dielectric layer, a portion of the barrier layer having been transformed from a first electrical conductivity to a second different and reduced electrical conductivity, and an interconnect coupled to the at least one contact point.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a portable or handheld device for performing NMR analysis. The device comprises a console and a strip which can be placed into the console through a slot or other means. The strip comprises a sample holding place and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across a sample in the sample holding space. A permanent magnet is provided either by the console or the strip and generates a static magnetic field which, together with the excitation field, creates NMR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention also encompass method of performing NMR analysis using the portable device and method of making such devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a device for performing NMR or ESR analysis. The device comprises a detection unit, a magnet, and a disk having a magnetic pattern. The detection unit comprises a sample holding space for holding a sample and a microcoil for detecting NMR or ESR signals generated within the sample. The magnet generates a static magnetic field within the sample. The disk and magnetic pattern, when rotating, generate an excitation magnetic field, which, together with the static magnetic field, creates an NMR or ESR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention encompass methods for performing NMR or ESR analysis using the device and methods of making such devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a portable or handheld device for performing NMR analysis. The device comprises a console and a strip which can be placed into the console through a slot or other means. The strip comprises a sample holding place and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across a sample in the sample holding space. A permanent magnet is provided either by the console or the strip and generates a static magnetic field which, together with the excitation magnetic field, creates NMR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention also encompass method of performing NMR analysis using the portable device and method of making such devices.

Abstract: As embodiment of the invention relates to a device for performing NMR or ESR analysis. The device comprises a detection unit, a magnet, and a disk having a magnetic pattern. The detection unit comprises a sample holding space for holding a sample and a microcoil for detecting NMR or ESR signals generated within the sample. The magnet generates a static magnetic field within the sample. The disk and magnetic pattern, when rotating, generate an excitation magnetic field, which, together with the static magnetic field, creates an NMR or ESR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention encompass methods for performing NMR or ESR analysis using the device and methods of making such devices.

Abstract: An embodiment if the invention relates to an integrated on-chip NMR or ESR device for performing chemical analysis and medical diagnostics. Specifically, the device contains, on a single substrate, a sample holding space, a magnet for generating a static magnetic field across the sample holding space and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across sample holding space. The magnetic fields are able to create NMR or ESR within a sample in the sample holding space and collect and/or process the signals from the NMR or ESR. The substrate may comprise an array of microcoils and sample holding spaces for performing multiple NMR or ESR analysis, such as multiple DNA analysis. Other embodiments of the invention relate methods for fabricating such devices and methods for performing NMR or ESR analysis using such devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated on-chip NMR or ESR device for performing chemical analysis and medical diagnostics. Specifically, the device contains, on a single substrate, a sample holding space, a magnet for generating a static magnetic field across the sample holding space and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across sample holding space. The magnetic fields are able to create NMR or ESR within a sample in the sample holding space and collect and/or process the signals from the NMR or ESR. The substrate may comprise an array of microcoils and sample holding spaces for performing multiple NMR or ESR analysis, such as multiple DNA analysis. Other embodiments of the invention relate methods for fabrication such devices and methods for performing NMR or ESR analysis using such devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a portable or handheld device for performing NMR analysis. The device comprises a console and a strip which can be placed into the console through a slot or other means. The strip comprises a sample holding place and a microcoil for generating an excitation magnetic field across a sample in the sample holding space. A permanent magnet is provided either by the console or the strip and generates a static magnetic field which, together with the excitation field, creates NMR within the sample. Other embodiments of the invention also encompass method of performing NMR analysis using the portable device and method of making such devices.

Abstract: A method includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including at least one contact opening; forming an interconnect in the contact opening; and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. A method including forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including a dielectric layer and a contact opening, depositing a conductive material in the contact opening, removing the conductive material sufficient to expose the barrier layer on the substrate surface, and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. An apparatus including a circuit substrate including at least one active layer including at least one contact point, a dielectric layer on the at least one active layer, a barrier layer on a surface of the dielectric layer, a portion of the barrier layer having been transformed from a first electrical conductivity to a second different and reduced electrical conductivity, and an interconnect coupled to the at least one contact point.

Abstract: A method includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including at least one contact opening; forming an interconnect in the contact opening; and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. A method including forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including a dielectric layer and a contact opening, depositing a conductive material in the contact opening, removing the conductive material sufficient to expose the barrier layer on the substrate surface, and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. An apparatus including a circuit substrate including at least one active layer including at least one contact point, a dielectric layer on the at least one active layer, a barrier layer on a surface of the dielectric layer, a portion of the barrier layer having been transformed from a first electrical conductivity to a second different and reduced electrical conductivity, and an interconnect coupled to the at least one contact point.

Abstract: The fabrication of an interconnect for a microelectronic device through the use of a nitrogen plasma to form a barrier layer. In one embodiment, an opening is formed in a dielectric layer and a metal layer is formed on the sidewalls and bottom of the opening. The metal layer, such as tantalum, is then exposed to nitrogen atoms thereby forming a metal nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments of those methods include providing a substrate comprising at least one opening, and then applying a nanotube slurry comprising at least one nanotube to the substrate, wherein the at least one nanotube is substantially placed within the at least one opening.