https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed ultra-thin semiconductor fibers that can be woven into fabrics, turning them into smart wearable electronics. Their work has been published in the journal Nature. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-ultra-thin-semiconductor-fibers.html Materials Science Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:20:01 EDT news630058577 Electron microscopes provide unique vistas of nanoscale structures, but their resolution is limited by the mutual repulsion of electrons. Researchers in Göttingen have now succeeded in precisely measuring the influence of these interactions. They discovered an "energetic fingerprint" in which the distribution of the electrons' velocities is characteristic of their respective numbers. This finding has enabled the team to develop a method that could increase the performance of established electron microscopes and open up a new interface between electron microscopy and quantum technology. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-interplay-free-electrons-tailored-electron.html General Physics Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:56:24 EDT news616409782 A research team led by Dr. Byeong-dae Choi at the DGIST Division of Electronics & Information System has greatly improved the efficiency of zinc sulfide powder-based electroluminescent devices by applying silver nanofilms. The study was published in the June 2023 edition of Advanced Photonics Research. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-team-brighter-technology.html Optics & Photonics Thu, 06 Jul 2023 10:16:02 EDT news607857361 Quantum dots, discovered in the 1990s, have a wide range of applications and are perhaps best known for producing vivid colors in some high-end televisions. But for some potential uses, such as tracking biochemical pathways of a drug as it interacts with living cells, progress has been hampered by one seemingly uncontrollable characteristic: a tendency to blink off at random intervals. That doesn't matter when the dots are used in the aggregate, as in TV screens, but for precision applications it can be a significant drawback. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-quantum-dots.html Nanophysics Mon, 22 Nov 2021 11:00:02 EST news556787146 Moore's Law, the famous prediction that the number of transistors that can be packed onto a microchip will double every couple of years, has been bumping into basic physical limits. These limits could bring decades of progress to a halt, unless new approaches are found. https://phys.org/news/2021-05-advance-enable-2d-transistors-tinier.html Nanophysics Fri, 14 May 2021 09:48:14 EDT news540204488 As computer chips and other electronic devices continue to shrink in size, they become ever more sensitive to contamination. However, detecting the nanoscale equivalent of a water spot on a window is incredibly challenging. It is essential, though, since these nearly invisible defects of these components may interfere with proper functioning. https://phys.org/news/2020-10-low-cost-method-nanoscale-contaminants-semiconductor.html Nanophysics Tue, 20 Oct 2020 09:18:42 EDT news522404318 Semiconductor manufacturers are paying more attention to two-dimensional materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), following the discovery, at KAUST, of an epitaxial growth process of single-crystal TMDs nanoribbons. https://phys.org/news/2020-09-peel-apart-surfaces-transistors-ledge.html Nanomaterials Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:43:12 EDT news518787782 Microelectronics utilize various functional materials whose properties make them suitable for specific applications. For example, transistors and data storage devices are made of silicon, and most photovoltaic cells used for generating electricity from sunlight are also currently made of this semiconductor material. In contrast, compound semiconductors such as gallium nitride are used to generate light in optoelectronic elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The manufacturing processes also different for the various classes of materials. https://phys.org/news/2020-06-perovskite.html Materials Science Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:48:10 EDT news511177685 Semiconductor manufacturing and many other industrial operations involve cleaning processes, and from environmental and health perspectives, it's become highly desirable to use physical cleaning techniques such as liquid jets or underwater ultrasound instead of toxic chemicals. https://phys.org/news/2019-01-fluid-dynamics-simulation-reveals-underlying.html Condensed Matter Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:00:02 EST news467966819 Nanomaterials offer unique optical and electrical properties and bottom-up integration within industrial semiconductor manufacturing processes. However, they also present one of the most challenging research problems. In essence, semiconductor manufacturing today lacks methods for depositing nanomaterials at predefined chip locations without chemical contamination. We think that graphene, one of the thinnest, strongest, most flexible and most conductive materials on the planet, could help solve this manufacturing challenge. https://phys.org/news/2018-10-graphene-nanomaterials.html Nanomaterials Tue, 09 Oct 2018 09:10:10 EDT news458294139 Japanese semiconductor firm Renesas on Tuesday announced a deal to buy California-based IDT in a cash deal valued at $6.7 billion. https://phys.org/news/2018-09-japan-semiconductor-company-renesas-firm.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 11 Sep 2018 03:10:01 EDT news455853177 The man who founded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) and made it the world's biggest microchip producer in terms of contracts announced Monday he would retire next year. https://phys.org/news/2017-10-taiwan-microchip-giant-tsmc.html Business Mon, 02 Oct 2017 07:00:28 EDT news426146422 Microchip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing blamed currency fluctuations as it posted a slump in first quarter earnings Thursday, warning that growth was unlikely to pick up before the second half of the year. https://phys.org/news/2017-04-chipmaker-tsmc-forex-fluctuation-q1.html Business Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:11:14 EDT news411300669 Taiwan's economy notched up its best performance in almost two years in the final quarter of 2016, with strong demand for electronics offsetting a plunge in mainland tourists, according to official data released Wednesday. https://phys.org/news/2017-01-taiwan-economy-rallies-electronics-demand.html Business Wed, 25 Jan 2017 03:30:01 EST news404536819 Apple's new iPhone 7 series gave Taiwan microchip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) a boost Thursday as the firm announced profits were up by almost a third compared with last year. https://phys.org/news/2016-10-taiwan-tsmc-profit-boost-iphone.html Business Thu, 13 Oct 2016 06:57:49 EDT news395560665 Taiwan on Wednesday approved a plan by its leading chipmaker to build a $3 billion plant in China using state-of-the-art technology, after easing curbs on high-tech investment in the mainland. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-taiwan-tsmc-bn-china.html Business Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:00:54 EST news373698048 Taiwan further relaxed controls Friday on local high-tech companies expanding into China, with the aim of allowing them to compete with giants like Intel and Samsung on the mainland market. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-taiwan-law-tech-production-china.html Business Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:42:27 EDT news360578538 An ultra-stable, ultra-thin bonding technology has been adapted by researchers in PML's Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division for use as a super-strong vacuum seal. https://phys.org/news/2014-12-thin-strong-bond-vacuum.html Engineering Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:22:14 EST news336820887 IBM will pay $1.5 billion to Globalfoundries in order to shed its costly chip division. https://phys.org/news/2014-10-ibm-15b-chip-division.html Business Mon, 20 Oct 2014 06:59:27 EDT news333007159 Thin-film transistors (TFTs) are powerful devices in semiconductor manufacturing and form the basis of countless electronic devices, such as memory chips, photovoltaic cells, logic gates, and sensors. An interesting alternative to inorganic TFTs (silicon) is organic TFTs (OTFTs), which offer the possibility of mass production by using the conventional printing technology and working with low-cost materials. However, numerous inherent problems still remain, especially concerning the long-term stability and lack of reliability. https://phys.org/news/2014-08-inkjet-printed-field-effect-transistor-label-free-biosensing.html Nanophysics Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:50:02 EDT news326965007 Taiwan's struggling personal computer maker Acer named a new chairman Wednesday, succeeding founder Stan Shih who had returned from retirement for a six-month stint to launch a series of reforms. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-shih-month-stint-taiwan-acer.html Business Wed, 18 Jun 2014 10:00:02 EDT news322300537 Silicon (Si) is ubiquitous in modern semiconductor manufacturing. Well-established procedures for its processing, perfected over more than five decades of industrial use, enable a diverse array of electronic devices that pervade everyday life. The highly evolved supply chain that accompanies Si's dominance also enables very low manufacturing costs. In fact, it is far cheaper to fabricate a Si-based transistor than print a single letter in a newspaper. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-reimagining-silicon.html General Physics Fri, 13 Jun 2014 09:50:04 EDT news321870010 Taiwan's struggling personal computer maker Acer said Thursday it had swung back to profit in the first three months to March, ending three consecutive quarterly losses due to better cost and inventory control. https://phys.org/news/2014-05-taiwan-acer-profit-q1.html Business Thu, 08 May 2014 09:40:04 EDT news318759379 University of California, Berkeley researchers sponsored by Semiconductor Research Corporation, are pursuing a novel approach to 3D device integration that promises to lead to advanced mobile devices and wearable electronics featuring increased functionality in more low-profile packages. https://phys.org/news/2014-05-functionality-advanced-mobile-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 08 May 2014 08:10:04 EDT news318753542 Stan Shih, founder of Taiwan's struggling personal computer maker Acer, said Sunday that he plans to retire as the chairman next month, six months after he returned to launch a series of reforms, the company and media said. https://phys.org/news/2014-05-acer-founder-shih-months-reforms.html Business Sun, 04 May 2014 12:25:14 EDT news318425105 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's leading contract microchip maker, on Wednesday raised its first-quarter guidance buoyed by robust demand for sophisticated chips used in smartphones and tablets. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-taiwan-semiconductor-q1-guidance-upbeat.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:00:01 EDT news313836094 Taiwanese computer maker Acer said Tuesday it has made its first major investment since overhauling its top management late last year, acquiring a 15.6 percent stake in a PChome subsidiary. https://phys.org/news/2014-01-taiwan-acer-internet.html Business Tue, 07 Jan 2014 05:20:01 EST news308293838 Taiwan's struggling personal computer maker Acer Monday named a new chief executive officer following losses of hundreds of millions of dollars in the third quarter. https://phys.org/news/2013-12-taiwan-acer-ceo-3q-losses.html Business Mon, 23 Dec 2013 09:47:07 EST news307014420 With the rise of online open course platforms such as Khan Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare and iTunes U, it has never been easier to teach yourself everything from American history to semiconductor manufacturing. These courses enable students to advance at their own pace while accessing the limitless resources available on the internet for supplemental material. https://phys.org/news/2013-11-degree-plasma-room.html Plasma Physics Wed, 13 Nov 2013 02:50:38 EST news303533370 Carbon nanotubes' outstanding mechanical, electrical and thermal properties make them an alluring material to electronics manufacturers. However, until recently scientists believed that growing the high density of tiny graphene cylinders needed for many microelectronics applications would be difficult. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-densest-array-carbon-nanotubes-grown.html Nanophysics Fri, 20 Sep 2013 11:42:48 EDT news298896158