Patent · US Expired

Nanowire varactor diode and methods of making same

US7115971B2 · kind B2 · utility

80Cited by
7References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 2004
Grant dateOct 3, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/762
  • WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A nanowire varactor diode and methods of making the same are disclosed. The structure comprises a coaxial capacitor running the length of the semiconductor nanowire. In one embodiment, a semiconductor nanowire of a first conductivity type is deposited on a substrate. An insulator is formed on at least a portion of the nanowire's surface. A region of the nanowire is doped with a second conductivity type material. A first electrical contact is formed on at least part of the insulator and the doped region. A second electrical contact is formed on a non-doped potion of the nanowire. During operation, the conductivity type at the surface of the nanowire inverts and a depletion region is formed upon application of a voltage to the first and second electrical contacts. The varactor diode thereby exhibits variable capacitance as a function of the applied voltage.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.