Abstract: A bipolar power semiconductor component configured as an IGBT includes a semiconductor body, in which a p-doped emitter, an n-doped base, a p-doped base and an n-doped main emitter are arranged successively in a vertical direction. The p-doped emitter has a number of heavily p-doped zones having a locally increased p-type doping.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first trench being provided in an N+ substrate. An N layer, an N? layer, a P layer, and an N+ layer are formed in a stacked manner to cover the first trench. The semiconductor device includes second and third trenches. The P+ layer is formed to cover the second trench. The trench gates are formed to cover the third trenches.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to LIGBTs, ICs comprising an LIGBT and methods of forming an LIGBT, and more particularly to an LIGBT comprising a substrate region of first conductivity type and peak dopant concentration less than about 1×1017/cm3; a lateral drift region of a second, opposite conductivity type adjacent the substrate region and electrically coupled to said substrate region; a charge injection region of the first conductivity type to inject charge toward said lateral drift region; a gate to control flow of said charge in said lateral drift region; metal enriched adhesive below said substrate region; and an intermediate layer below said substrate region to substantially suppress charge injection into said substrate region from said metal enriched adhesive.

Abstract: This invention provides a photo-FET, in which a FET part and photodiode part are stacked, and the FET part and photodiode part are optimized independently in design and operational bias conditions. The semiconductor layer serving as a photo-absorption layer (41) is formed on the cathode semiconductor layer (10) of a photodiode part (50). An electron barrier layer (40) with a wider bandgap semiconductor than a photo-absorption layer (41), which also serves as an anode layer of a photodiode part (50), is formed on a photo-absorption layer (41). The channel layer (15) which constitutes the channel regions of the FET part is formed with a narrower bandgap semiconductor than an electron barrier layer (40) on an electron barrier layer (40). The hole barrier layer (16) with a bandgap wider than the semiconductor which constitutes a channel layer (15) is formed on a channel layer (15). The source electrode (30) and drain electrode (32) which are separated each others, are formed on a hole barrier layer (16).

Abstract: Programmable nanotube interconnect is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a interconnect layer using a plurality of nanotube structures, and automatically altering a route of an integrated circuit based on an electrical current applied to at least one of the plurality of nanotube structures in the interconnect layer. Neighboring interconnect layers separated by planar vias may include communication lines that are perpendicularly oriented with respect to each of the neighboring interconnect layers. The nanotube structure may be chosen from a group comprising a polymer, carbon, and a composite material. A carbon nanotube film may be patterned in a metal layer to form the plurality of nanotube structures. A sputtered planar process may be performed across a trench of electrodes to create the carbon nanotube structures.

Abstract: A multiple layer tunnel insulator is fabricated between a substrate and a discrete trap layer. The properties of the multiple layers determines the volatility of the memory device. The composition of each layer and/or the quantity of layers is adjusted to fabricate either a DRAM device, a non-volatile memory device, or both simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic sensor. The acoustic sensor includes: a substrate including sidewall portions and a bottom portion extending from a bottom of the sidewall portions; a lower electrode fixed at the substrate and including a concave portion and a convex portion, the concave portion including a first hole on a middle region of the bottom, the convex portion including a second hole on an edge region of the bottom; diaphragms facing the concave portion of the lower electrode, with a vibration space therebetween; diaphragm supporters provided on the lower electrode at a side of the diaphragm and having a top surface having the same height as the diaphragm; and an acoustic chamber provided in a space between the bottom portion and the sidewall portions below the lower electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the substrate, where a bottom surface of the trench has a first crystal plane orientation and a side surface of the trench has a second crystal plane orientation, and epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material in the trench. The epi process utilizes an etch component. A first growth rate on the first crystal plane orientation is different from a second growth rate on the second crystal plane orientation.

Abstract: A low gate charging rectifier having a MOS structure and a P-N junction and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The low gate charging rectifier is a combination of an N-channel MOS structure and a lateral P-N junction diode. A portion of the gate-covering region is replaced by a thicker dielectric layer or a low conductivity polysilicon layer. In a forward mode, the N-channel MOS structure and the P-N junction diode are connected with each other in parallel. Under this circumstance, like the Schottky diode, the low gate charging rectifier has low forward voltage drop and rapid switching speed. Whereas, in a reverse mode, the leakage current is pinched off and the N-channel is shut off by the depletion region of the P-N junction diode, so that the low gate charging rectifier has low leakage current.

Abstract: A vertical junction field-effect transistor in a CMOS base-technology. The vertical junction field-effect transistor includes a semiconductor substrate having a source region and a drain region, a main-channel region formed between the source region and the drain region, a well region formed on the main-channel region between the source region and the drain region, vertical pinch-off regions formed at both source and drain ends or only on the source-end of the well region on the main-channel region in the source region and the drain region respectively, a source contact on the vertical pinch-off region in the source region, a drain contact on the vertical pinch-off region in the drain region, a gate contact on the well region between the source contact and the drain contact and shallow trench isolations formed on the well region.

Abstract: Field Side Sub-bitline NOR-type (FSNOR) flash array and the methods of fabrication are disclosed. The field side sub-bitlines of the invention formed with the same impurity type as the memory cells' source/drain electrodes along the two sides of field trench oxide link all the source electrodes together and all the drain electrodes together, respectively, for a string of semiconductor Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cells in a NOR-type flash array of the invention. Each field side sub-bitline is connected to a main metal bitline through a contact at its twisted point in the middle. Because there are no contacts in between the linked NVM cells' electrodes in the NOR-type flash array of the invention, the wordline pitch and the bitline pitch can be applied to the minimum geometrical feature of a specific technology node. The NOR-type flash array of the invention provides at least as high as those in the conventional NAND flash array in cell area density.

Abstract: A memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral devices. At least some of the individual memory cells include carbonated portions that contain SiC. At least some of the peripheral devices do not include any carbonated portions. A transistor includes a first source/drain, a second source/drain, a channel including a carbonated portion of a semiconductive substrate that contains SiC between the first and second sources/drains and a gate operationally associated with opposing sides of the channel.

Abstract: A spacer structure contains a carbon-containing oxide film positioned on a gate sidewall and a nitride film covering the carbon-containing oxide film. The carbon-containing oxide film has low etch rate so that the spacer structure can have a good profile during etching the carbon-containing oxide film.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion unit with a semiconductor region of a first conduction type, an amplifying transistor, and a contact. The contact supplies, via a semiconductor region of a second conduction type arranged along a side surface and a bottom surface of an element isolation region, a reference voltage to the semiconductor region of the second conduction-type arranged below source and drain regions of the amplifying transistor in a region below a gate electrode of the amplifying transistor.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a light-receiving part; a second-conductivity-type isolation layer; a detection transistor; and a reset transistor.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process comprising forming a pixel on a front side of a substrate, thinning the substrate, depositing a doped silicon layer on a backside of the thinned substrate, and diffusing a dopant from the doped silicon layer into the substrate. Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a pixel formed on a front side of a thinned substrate, a doped silicon layer formed on a backside of the thinned substrate, and a region in the thinned substrate, and near the backside, where a dopant has diffused from the doped silicon layer into the thinned substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A memory device includes a mesa structure and a word line. The mesa structure, having two opposite side surfaces, includes at least one pair of source/drain regions and at least one channel base region corresponding to the pair of source/drain regions formed therein. The word line includes two linear sections and at least one interconnecting portion. Each linear section extends on the respective side surface of the mesa structure, adjacent to the channel base region. The at least one interconnecting portion penetrates through the mesa structure, connecting the two linear sections.

Abstract: A power device with trenched gate structure, includes: a substrate having a first face and a second face opposing to the first face, a body region of a first conductivity type disposed in the substrate, a base region of a second conductivity type disposed in the body region, a cathode region of the first conductivity type disposed in the base region, an anode region of the second conductivity type disposed in the substrate at the second face a trench disposed in the substrate and extending from the first face into the body region, and the cathode region encompassing the trench, wherein the trench has a wavelike sidewall, a gate structure disposed in the trench and an accumulation region disposed in the body region and along the wavelike sidewall. The wavelike sidewall can increase the base current of the bipolar transistor and increase the performance of the IGBT.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device having a body bias voltage mechanism. The integrated circuit comprises a resistive structure disposed therein for selectively coupling either an external body bias voltage or a power supply voltage to biasing wells. A first pad for coupling with a first externally disposed pin can optionally be provided. The first pad is for receiving an externally applied body bias voltage. Circuitry for producing a body bias voltage can be coupled to the first pad for coupling a body bias voltage to a plurality of biasing wells disposed on the integrated circuit device. If an externally applied body bias voltage is not provided, the resistive structure automatically couples a power supply voltage to the biasing wells. The power supply voltage may be obtained internally to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: To provide a storage device in which advantages of both a nonvolatile storage device and a volatile storage device can be obtained, a semiconductor device includes a first transistor provided in or over a substrate and a second transistor provided above the first transistor, where at least part of the first transistor and the second transistor are overlapped with each other, and a gate electrode of the first transistor and a source or drain electrode of the second transistor are electrically connected to each other. It is preferable that the first transistor be provided using single crystal silicon and the second transistor be provided using an oxide semiconductor having extremely low off-state current.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a trench capacitor is disclosed. A substrate having a first pad layer is provided. STI structure is embedded into the first pad layer and the substrate. A second pad layer is deposited over the first pad layer and the STI structure. Two adjacent trenches are etched into the first, second pad layers, and the semiconductor substrate. The second pad layer and a portion of the STI structure between the two trenches are etched to form a ridge. A liner is formed on interior surface of the trenches. A first polysilicon layer is formed on the liner. A capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the first polysilicon layer. The two adjacent trenches are filled with a second polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer is then etched until the capacitor dielectric layer is exposed. The fabrication process is easy to integrate to SoC chip.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has an asymmetric buried gate structure with a stepped top surface and a method for fabricating the same. The method for fabricating the semiconductor memory device includes: etching a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate to form an isolation layer defining an active region; forming a recess within the active region; forming a metal layer filling the recess; asymmetrically etching the metal layer to form an asymmetric gate having a stepped top surface at a predetermined portion of the recess; and forming a capping oxide layer filling a remaining portion of the recess where the asymmetric gate is not formed, thereby obtaining an asymmetric buried gate including the asymmetric gate and the capping oxide layer.

Abstract: A memory device includes a group of memory cells formed on a substrate, each memory cell including a source region and a drain region formed in the substrate. The memory device also includes a protection layer formed on top surfaces of the source regions and the drain regions, and on side surfaces of the group of memory cells.

Abstract: Dual Conducting Floating Spacer Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (DCFS MOSFETs) and methods for fabricate them using a process that is compatible with forming conventional MOSFETs are disclosed. A DCFS MOSFET can provide multi-bit storage in a single Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) memory cell. Like a typical MOSFET, a DCFS MOSFET includes a control gate electrode on top of a gate dielectric-silicon substrate, thereby forming a main channel of the device. Two electrically isolated conductor spacers are provided on both sides of the control gate and partially overlap two source/drain diffusion areas, which are doped to an opposite type to the conductivity type of the substrate semiconductor. The DCFS MOSFET becomes conducting when a voltage that exceeds a threshold is applied at the control gate and is coupled through the corresponding conducting floating spacer to generate an electrical field strong enough to invert the carriers near the source junction.

Abstract: A MONOS type non-volatile semiconductor memory device which is capable of electrically writing, erasing, reading and retaining data, the memory device including source/drain regions, a first gate insulating layer, a first charge trapping layer formed on the first gate insulating layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the first charge trapping layer, and a controlling electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer. The first charge trapping layer includes an insulating film containing Al and O as major elements and having a defect pair formed of a complex of an interstitial O atom and a tetravalent cationic atom substituting for an Al atom, the insulating film also having electron unoccupied levels within the range of 2 eV-6 eV as measured from the valence band maximum of Al2O3.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, a method of forming the same, and a power converter including the semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a heavily doped substrate, a source/drain contact below the heavily doped substrate, and a channel layer above the heavily doped substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a heavily doped source/drain layer above the channel layer and another source/drain contact above the heavily doped source/drain layer. The semiconductor device further includes pillar regions through the another source/drain contact, the heavily doped source/drain layer, and portions of the channel layer to form a vertical cell therebetween. Non-conductive regions of the semiconductor device are located in the portions of the channel layer. The semiconductor device still further includes a gate above the non-conductive regions in the pillar regions. The semiconductor device may also include a Schottky diode including the channel layer and a Schottky contact.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of silicon pillars arranged in a matrix, whose sidewalls are provided with gate electrodes with gate insulating films interposed between the silicon pillars and the gate electrodes and whose top ends are electrically connected to memory elements, and a bit line and a word line provided between the silicon pillars so as to be orthogonal to each other. The bit line is electrically connected to a bottom end of the silicon pillars on both sides of the bit line in alternate rows, and the word line is electrically connected to a gate electrode formed on a sidewall of the silicon pillars on both sides of the word line in alternate columns.

Abstract: A semiconductor component that includes an edge termination structure and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor component. A semiconductor material has a semiconductor device region and an edge termination region. One or more device trenches may be formed in the semiconductor device region and one or more termination trenches is formed in the edge termination region. A source electrode is formed in a portion of a termination trench adjacent its floor and a floating electrode termination structure is formed in the portion of the termination trench adjacent its mouth. A second termination trench may be formed in the edge termination region and a non-floating electrode may be formed in the second termination trench. Alternatively, the second termination trench may be omitted and a trench-less non-floating electrode may be formed in the edge termination region.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, that buried gate electrodes are formed in a pair of trenches in a substrate, so as to be recessed from the level of the top end of the trenches, a base region is formed between a predetermined region located between the pair of trenches, and a source region is formed over the base region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes low voltage and high voltage transistors over a substrate. The low voltage transistor is configured by at least one unit transistor. The high voltage transistor is configured by a greater number of the unit transistors than the at least one unit transistor that configures the low voltage transistor. Each of the unit transistors may include a vertically extending portion of semiconductor providing a channel region and having a uniform height, a gate insulating film extending along a side surface of the vertically extending portion of semiconductor, a gate electrode separated by the gate insulating film from the vertically extending portion of semiconductor, and upper and lower diffusion regions being respectively disposed near the top and bottom of the vertically extending portion of semiconductor. The greater number of the unit transistors are connected in series to each other and have gate electrodes eclectically connected to each other.

Abstract: Semiconductor memory devices and methods of forming semiconductor memory devices are provided. The methods may include forming insulation layers and cell gate layers that are alternately stacked on a substrate, forming an opening by successively patterning through the cell gate layers and the insulation layers, and forming selectively conductive barriers on sidewalls of the cell gate layers in the opening.

Abstract: A structure has a functional region having a first type of conductivity and a top surface. The functional region is connected to a bias contact. The structure further includes an insulating layer; a semiconductor layer and first and second transistor devices having the same type of conductivity disposed upon the semiconductor layer. The structure further includes a first back gate region adjacent to the top surface and underlying one of the transistor devices, the first back gate region having a second type of conductivity; and a second back gate region adjacent to the top surface and underlying the other one of the transistor devices, the second back gate region having the first type of conductivity. The first transistor device has a first characteristic threshold voltage and the second transistor device has a second characteristic threshold voltage that differs from the first characteristic threshold voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for reducing the threshold voltage difference between an n-type field effect transistor (n-FET) and a p-type field effect transistor (p-FET) in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuit located on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Specifically, a substrate bias voltage is applied to the CMOS circuit for differentially adjusting the threshold voltages of the n-FET and the p-FET. For example, a positive substrate bias voltage can be used to reduce the threshold voltage of the n-FET but increase that of the p-FET, while a negative substrate bias voltage can be used to increase the threshold voltage of the n-FET but reduce that of the p-FET. Further, two or more substrate bias voltages of different magnitudes and/or directions can be used for differentially adjusting the n-FET and p-FET threshold voltages in two or more different CMOS circuits or groups of CMOS circuits.

Abstract: An ESD protection device is described, which includes a P-body region, a P-type doped region, an N-type doped region and an N-sinker region. The P-body region is configured in a substrate. The P-type doped region is configured in the middle of the P-body region. The N-type doped region is configured in the P-body region and surrounds the P-type doped region. The N-sinker region is configured in the substrate and surrounds the P-body region.

Abstract: In a lateral bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base and a collector which are formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction. In addition, in a MOS-bipolar hybrid transistor formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a cathode and an anode. The anode includes a first p-type semiconductor anode region and a second p-type semiconductor anode region. The first p-type semiconductor anode region is electrically connected to an anode contact area. The second p-type semiconductor anode region is electrically coupled to the anode contact area via a switch configured to provide an electrical connection or an electrical disconnection between the second p-type anode region and the anode contact area.

Abstract: An epitaxial Ni silicide film that is substantially non-agglomerated at high temperatures, and a method for forming the epitaxial Ni silicide film, is provided. The Ni silicide film of the present disclosure is especially useful in the formation of ETSOI (extremely thin silicon-on-insulator) Schottky junction source/drain FETs. The resulting epitaxial Ni silicide film exhibits improved thermal stability and does not agglomerate at high temperatures.

Abstract: Leakage current can be substantially reduced by the formation of a seal dielectric in place of the conventional junction between source/drain region(s) and the substrate material. Trenches are formed in the substrate and lined with a seal dielectric prior to filling the trenches with semiconductor material. Preferably, the trenches are overfilled and a CMP process planarizes the overfill material. An epitaxial layer can be grown atop the trenches after planarization, if desired.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; an element isolation insulating film embedded in the vicinity of a front surface of the semiconductor substrate; a through plug penetrating the semiconductor substrate from a back surface to the front surface so as to penetrate through the element isolation insulating film, and having a multi-stage structure comprising an upper stage portion and a lower stage portion, the upper stage portion having a region surrounded by the element isolation insulating film in the semiconductor substrate, the lower stage portion having a diameter larger than that of the upper stage portion; and a contact plug connected to an end portion of the through plug on the frond surface side of the semiconductor substrate for connecting a conductive member formed above the front surface side of the semiconductor substrate to the through plug.

Abstract: A method to reduce contact resistance of n-channel transistors by using a III-V semiconductor interlayer in source and drain is generally presented. In this regard, a device is introduced comprising an n-type transistor with a source region and a drain region a first interlayer dielectric layer adjacent the transistor, a trench through the first interlayer dielectric layer to the source region, and a conductive source contact in the trench, the source contact being separated from the source region by a III-V semiconductor interlayer. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An asymmetric insulated-gate field effect transistor (100U or 102U) provided along an upper surface of a semiconductor body contains first and second source/drain zones (240 and 242 or 280 and 282) laterally separated by a channel zone (244 or 284) of the transistor's body material. A gate electrode (262 or 302) overlies a gate dielectric layer (260 or 300) above the channel zone. A pocket portion (250 or 290) of the body material more heavily doped than laterally adjacent material of the body material extends along largely only the first of the S/D zones and into the channel zone. The vertical dopant profile of the pocket portion is tailored to reach a plurality of local maxima (316-1-316-3) at respective locations (PH-1-PH-3) spaced apart from one another. The tailoring is typically implemented so that the vertical dopant profile of the pocket portion is relatively flat near the upper semiconductor surface. As a result, the transistor has reduced leakage current.

Abstract: This invention provides a semiconductor device having a field effect transistor comprising a gate electrode comprising a metal nitride layer and a polycrystalline silicon layer, and the gate electrode is excellent in thermal stability and realizes a desired work function. In the semiconductor device, a gate insulating film 6 on a silicon substrate 5 has a high-permittivity insulating film formed of a metal oxide, a metal silicate, a metal oxide introduced with nitrogen, or a metal silicate introduced with nitrogen, the gate electrode has a first metal nitride layer 7 provided on the gate insulating film 6 and containing Ti and N, a second metal nitride layer 8 containing Ti and N, and a polycrystalline silicon layer 9, in the first metal nitride layer 7, a molar ratio between Ti and N (N/Ti) is not less than 1.1, and a crystalline orientation X1 is 1.1<X1 <1.8, and in the second metal nitride layer 8, the molar ratio between Ti and N (N/Ti) is not less than 1.1, and a crystalline orientation X2 is 1.

Abstract: A capped integrated device includes a semiconductor chip, incorporating an integrated device and a protective cap, bonded to the semiconductor chip for protection of the integrated device by means of a bonding layer made of a bonding material. The bonding material forms anchorage elements within recesses, formed in at least one between the semiconductor chip and the protective cap.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive Wheatstone-bridge structure includes a magnetoresistive ring structure. The magnetoresistive ring structure includes a first magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic material. A second magnetic layer also includes a ferromagnetic material. A non-magnetic spacer is positioned between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A vacant open region is positioned in the center region of the magnetoresistive ring structure. A plurality of magnetic states can exist in either the first magnetic layer or second magnetic layer. Furthermore, the magnetoresistive Wheatstone-bridge structure includes a plurality of voltage and current contacts arranged symmetrically upon the magnetoresistive ring structure. The magnetic state of the ring is detected by measuring its resistance.

Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device in which short circuit failures in magnetic resistor elements and the like are reduced, and a method of manufacturing the same. An interlayer insulating film in which memory cells are formed is formed such that the upper surface of the portion of the interlayer insulating film located in a memory cell region where the magnetic resistor elements are formed is at a position lower than that of the upper surface of the portion of the interlayer insulating film located in a peripheral region. Another interlayer insulating film is formed so as to cover the magnetic resistor elements. In the another interlayer insulating film, formed are bit lines electrically coupled to the magnetic resistor elements. Immediately below the magnetic resistor elements, formed are digit lines.

Abstract: A photosensitive optoelectronic device having an improved hybrid planar bulk heterojunction includes a plurality of photoconductive materials disposed between the anode and the cathode. The photoconductive materials include a first continuous layer of donor material and a second continuous layer of acceptor material. A first network of donor material or materials extends from the first continuous layer toward the second continuous layer, providing continuous pathways for conduction of holes to the first continuous layer. A second network of acceptor material or materials extends from the second continuous layer toward the first continuous layer, providing continuous pathways for conduction of electrons to the second continuous layer. The first network and the second network are interlaced with each other. At least one other photoconductive material is interspersed between the interlaced networks.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device that includes a material having enhanced electronic transitions. The electronic transitions are enhanced by mixing electronic states at an interface. The interface may be formed by a nano-well, a nano-dot, or a nano-wire.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus for down-converting and detecting photons includes a detector layer and a nanocrystal layer. The nanocrystal layer includes nanocrystals operable to absorb first photons of a higher energy and emit second photons of a lower energy in response to the absorption. The detector layer is configured to detect the second photons. In certain embodiments, a method for manufacturing an apparatus for down-converting and detecting photons includes preparing an outer surface of a substrate. Nanocrystals are disposed outwardly from the outer surface. The nanocrystals are operable to absorb first photons of a higher energy and emit second photons of a lower energy in response to the absorption.

Abstract: A sensor having a monolithically integrated structure for detecting thermal radiation includes: a carrier substrate, a cavity, and at least one sensor element for detecting thermal radiation. Incident thermal radiation strikes the sensor element via the carrier substrate. The sensor element is suspended in the cavity by a suspension.