L2M – Ultrafast Photocurrent Spectrometer (UPCS)

This project focuses on supporting the commercialization and market entry of a new scientific instrument called Ultrafast Photocurrent Spectrometer. To control the semiconductor material quality, and to test semiconductor device performance, ultimately leading to superior device efficiency and yield, the semiconductor industry needs a critical tool to characterize the electrical figures-of-merit when devices are in operation. The electrical figures-of-merit include carrier lifetime, mobility, and defect concentration, etc. Existing commercialized time-resolved spectrometers (TRS) including the time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and transient absorption (TA) spectrometers are limited to the carrier lifetime measurements by the identification of semiconductor optical property, rather than electrical property. As a result, they lack one of the most critical parameter measurements: carrier mobility. Moreover, due to the complexity of the semiconductor device structure, those TRS are limited to the characterization of semiconductors only. Thus, despite that these approaches have provided a glimpse into semiconductor photophysics, a significant gap remains in characterization of electrical figures-of-merit in operando, i.e. when devices are at work. We aim to address this challenge by developing a new generation of time-resolved spectrometers: the ultrafast photocurrent spectrometers (UPCS). The UPCS have the following unique features: 1) a complete electrical figures-of-merit characterization including carrier lifetime, mobility, and defect concentration, 2) in-operando device characterization, and 3) a wide range of temporal and wavelength coverage. Although the UPCS has been successfully demonstrated in a research setting, this project will help translate it into a market-ready product by identifying the right target customers, understanding their needs, and developing a go-to-market strategy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jianbo Gao

Student:

Partner:

DMZ Ventures Inc

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Brock University

Program: