Patents by Inventor Michael R. Snure

Michael R. Snure 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: 20220216109
    Abstract: A method for making a selective-area lift-off thin film comprises depositing a van der Waals (vdW) buffer on a substrate; depositing a thin film material (or device structure) on the van der Waals buffer; depositing an adhesion layer on the thin film material; forming a stressor layer on top of the thin film layer; and bonding a handle layer to the stressor layer. Force may be applied to the layered structure by one or more of rolling, bending, and shearing. The area selected for lift-off may be defined by one of laser cutting and mechanical scribing. The vdW buffer includes one or more of hBN, graphite, and graphene. The handle layer is a one of a polyimide tape, thermal release tape, UV release tape, water- or solvent-soluble tape, Kapton tape, and Scotch tape. The stressor layer is a metal film, e.g. Ni, Cr, Ti.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, Eric W. Blanton, Jeff L. Brown, Albert M. Hilton
  • Patent number: 11361999
    Abstract: A method for making a selective-area lift-off thin film comprises depositing a van der Waals (vdW) buffer on a substrate; depositing a thin film material (or device structure) on the van der Waals buffer; depositing an adhesion layer on the thin film material; forming a stressor layer on top of the thin film layer; and bonding a handle layer to the stressor layer. Force may be applied to the layered structure by one or more of rolling, bending, and shearing. The area selected for lift-off may be defined by one of laser cutting and mechanical scribing. The vdW buffer includes one or more of hBN, graphite, and graphene. The handle layer is a one of a polyimide tape, thermal release tape, UV release tape, water- or solvent-soluble tape, Kapton tape, and Scotch tape. The stressor layer is a metal film, e.g. Ni, Cr, Ti.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, Eric W. Blanton, Jeff L. Brown, Albert M. Hilton
  • Patent number: 10957789
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus incorporating Gallium Nitride heterostructure (Alx,Iny)Ga1-x-y N-materials in flexible, strainable and wearable radio frequency devices. These devices include (Alx,Iny)Ga1-x-y N-based high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), which enable amplification of microwave radio frequencies from approximately 300 MHz to approximately 300 GHz for flexible and conformal wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Glavin, Kelson D. Chabak, Michael R. Snure
  • Patent number: 10941505
    Abstract: A method of forming a sp2 boron nitride (BN) layer on a surface of a substrate, the method comprising providing first and second precursors at the surface of the substrate, the first precursor being a source of boron and the second precursor being a source of nitrogen; heating the substrate to a temperature greater than a pyrolysis point for either of the first and second precursors; pyrolyzing the first precursor at the surface of the substrate; activating the second precursor at the surface of the substrate with the pyrolyzed first precursor; and adsorbing the pyrolyzed first precursor and the activated second precursor onto the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, Gene P. Siegel, Catalin S. Badescu, Cristian Ciobanu, Badri Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20210039949
    Abstract: A low pressure process for producing thin film crystalline black phosphorus on a substrate and a black phosphorus thin film made by the process. The process includes flowing a phosphorus-containing gas into a deposition chamber and depositing phosphorus from the phosphorus-containing gas onto the substrate in the chamber. The substrate is selected from (i) a gold substrate, a gold-tin alloy substrate, a silver substrate and a copper substrate and (ii) a substrate comprising a thin film of metal selected from gold, tin, silver, copper and alloys of the foregoing metals. The substrate and phosphorus are heated to a temperature ranging from about 350° to less than about 500° C. to form a phosphorus intermediate composition. The substrate and intermediate composition are heated to a temperature of greater than 500° C. to less than about 1000° C. convert the metal phosphorus intermediate composition to the black phosphorus thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael R. SNURE, David WEYBURNE
  • Patent number: 10858253
    Abstract: A low pressure process for producing thin film crystalline black phosphorus on a substrate and a black phosphorus thin film made by the process. The process includes flowing a phosphorus-containing gas into a deposition chamber and depositing phosphorus from the phosphorus-containing gas onto the substrate in the chamber. The substrate is selected from (i) a gold substrate, a gold-tin alloy substrate, a silver substrate and a copper substrate and (ii) a substrate comprising a thin film of metal selected from gold, tin, silver, copper and alloys of the foregoing metals. The substrate and phosphorus are heated to a temperature ranging from about 350° to less than about 500° C. to form a phosphorus intermediate composition. The substrate and intermediate composition are heated to a temperature of greater than 500° C. to less than about 1000° C. convert the metal phosphorus intermediate composition to the black phosphorus thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, David Weyburne
  • Publication number: 20200207623
    Abstract: A low pressure process for producing thin film crystalline black phosphorus on a substrate and a black phosphorus thin film made by the process. The process includes flowing a phosphorus-containing gas into a deposition chamber and depositing phosphorus from the phosphorus-containing gas onto the substrate in the chamber. The substrate is selected from (i) a gold substrate, a gold-tin alloy substrate, a silver substrate and a copper substrate and (ii) a substrate comprising a thin film of metal selected from gold, tin, silver, copper and alloys of the foregoing metals. The substrate and phosphorus are heated to a temperature ranging from about 350° to less than about 500° C. to form a phosphorus intermediate composition. The substrate and intermediate composition are heated to a temperature of greater than 500° C. to less than about 1000° C. convert the metal phosphorus intermediate composition to the black phosphorus thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael R. SNURE, David WEYBURNE
  • Patent number: 10692996
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus incorporating Gallium Nitride heterostructure (Alx,Iny)Ga1-x-y N-materials in flexible, strainable and wearable radio frequency devices. These devices include (Alx,Iny)Ga1-x-y N-based high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), which enable amplification of microwave radio frequencies from approximately 300 MHz to approximately 300 GHz for flexible and conformal wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Glavin, Kelson D. Chabak, Michael R. Snure
  • Patent number: 10504722
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a mechanical release layer, such as a van der Waals buffer layer, with a predetermined material roughness and thickness adjacent to a first substrate; a nucleation layer adjacent to the mechanical release layer; and a first semiconductor layer attached to the nucleation layer. The first semiconductor layer, the nucleation layer, and a portion of the mechanical release layer are releasably connected to the first substrate. The predetermined material roughness and thickness of the mechanical release layer determines a bonding strength of the first semiconductor layer to the first substrate. The semiconductor device may include an aluminum nitride insert layer adjacent to the first semiconductor layer; an aluminum gallium nitride barrier layer adjacent to the aluminum nitride insert layer; and a second semiconductor layer adjacent to the aluminum gallium nitride barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, Gene P. Siegel, Qing Paduano
  • Patent number: 10358739
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing zinc selenide crystals. The method includes forming an aqueous growth medium by combining a mineralizer solution of an alkali nutrient with a feedstock including zinc and selenium. A seed crystal is added to the growth medium. The aqueous growth medium and seed crystal are pressurized and a thermal gradient applied such that a temperature of a first portion of the aqueous growth medium is greater than a second portion of the aqueous growth medium. The zinc and selenium are dissolved into the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion of the aqueous growth medium and spontaneously forms at least one single crystal of zinc selenide on the seed crystal in the first portion of the aqueous growth medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventors: James Matthew Mann, Martin M. Kimani, Eric Michael Hunt, Michael R. Snure
  • Publication number: 20190035624
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a mechanical release layer, such as a van der Waals buffer layer, with a predetermined material roughness and thickness adjacent to a first substrate; a nucleation layer adjacent to the mechanical release layer; and a first semiconductor layer attached to the nucleation layer. The first semiconductor layer, the nucleation layer, and a portion of the mechanical release layer are releasably connected to the first substrate. The predetermined material roughness and thickness of the mechanical release layer determines a bonding strength of the first semiconductor layer to the first substrate. The semiconductor device may include an aluminum nitride insert layer adjacent to the first semiconductor layer; an aluminum gallium nitride barrier layer adjacent to the aluminum nitride insert layer; and a second semiconductor layer adjacent to the aluminum gallium nitride barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Michael R. Snure, Gene P. Siegel, Qing Paduano
  • Publication number: 20180171505
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing zinc selenide crystals. The method includes forming an aqueous growth medium by combining a mineralizer solution of an alkali nutrient with a feedstock including zinc and selenium. A seed crystal is added to the growth medium. The aqueous growth medium and seed crystal are pressurized and a thermal gradient applied such that a temperature of a first portion of the aqueous growth medium is greater than a second portion of the aqueous growth medium. The zinc and selenium are dissolved into the mineralizer solution from the feedstock in the first portion of the aqueous growth medium and spontaneously forms at least one single crystal of zinc selenide on the seed crystal in the first portion of the aqueous growth medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James Matthew Mann, Martin M. Kimani, Eric Michael Hunt, Michael R. Snure
  • Patent number: 7972900
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ashutosh Tiwari, Michael R. Snure
  • Patent number: 7804149
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ashutosh Tiwari, Michael R. Snure
  • Publication number: 20100203674
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Ashutosh Tiwari, Michael R. Snure
  • Publication number: 20090008637
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Ashutosh Tiwari, Michael R. Snure