Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:31:24.736Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Analysis of the Use of Molecular Resonant Tunneling Diodes for Local Refresh of Dynamic Random Access Memory Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Jonas Berg
Affiliation:
Chalmers University of Technology, Microtechnology Centre at Chalmers and Solid State Electronics Laboratory, Department of Microelectronics, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Stefan Bengtsson
Affiliation:
Chalmers University of Technology, Microtechnology Centre at Chalmers and Solid State Electronics Laboratory, Department of Microelectronics, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Per Lundgren
Affiliation:
Chalmers University of Technology, Microtechnology Centre at Chalmers and Solid State Electronics Laboratory, Department of Microelectronics, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Get access

Abstract

Simulations have been made to analyze the use of molecular resonant tunneling diodes for local refresh of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) cells. Local refresh can be provided by a latch consisting of a pair of resonant tunneling diodes connected to the storage capacitor of the cell. Such a solution would significantly reduce the standby power consumption of the DRAM cell. We have compared the requirements on the resonant tunneling diodes for proper refresh operation with the electrical properties of published molecules with resonant IV-curves. The simulations show that no molecules with resonant electrical properties published so far in the literature have properties making them useful for this particular application. This is true also for low temperature operation. The issues of maximum tolerable series resistance and of maximum tolerable fluctuations in the number of attached molecules have also been addressed. Our results show that the focus for development of molecules with resonant electrical properties should be to find molecules with resonance for lower applied voltages and lower current levels than the molecules published so far. If the synthesis of new molecules with attractive properties is successful the merging of silicon technology and molecular electronics, for instance for new generations of DRAM cells, is a realistic future path of microelectronics.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, (1999).Google Scholar
2. Wagt, P. van der, Seabaugh, A. and Beam, E. III, IEDM 1996, 960 (1996)Google Scholar
3. Reed, M. A., Proc. IEEE 87, 652658 (1999).Google Scholar
4. Chen, J., Reed, M. A., Rawlett, A. M. and Tour, J. M., Science 286, 15501552 (1999).Google Scholar
5. Chang, C., Asbeck, P., Wang, K. and Brown, E., IEEE Trans. El. Dev. 40, 685691 (1993).Google Scholar
6. Maezawa, K., Jap. J. App. Phys, Part 1 34, 12131217 (1995).Google Scholar
7. Zhixin, Y. and Deen, M. J., IEEE Trans. CAD Int. Circ. Syst 14, 167172 (1995).Google Scholar
8. Schulman, J., Santos, H. De Los and Chow, D., IEEE El. Dev. Lett. 17, 220222 (1996).Google Scholar
9. Broekaert, T. P. E., Brar, B. et al. , IEEE J. Solid State Circ. 33, 13421349 (1998).Google Scholar
10. Huei, S. Ming and Chang, L. Hung, IEEE Trans. CAD Int. Circ. Syst 14, 10981103 (1995).Google Scholar
11. Jones, L., Schumm, J. S. and Tour, J. M., J. Org. Chem. 62, 13881410 (1997).Google Scholar
12. Wagt, J. P. A. van der, Proc. IEEE 87, 571595 (1999).Google Scholar
13. Rommel, S. L., Dillon, T. E., Dashiell, M. W. et al. , App. Phys. Lett. 73, 21912193 (1998).Google Scholar
14. Gentile, S. P., Basic theory and application of tunnel diodes (Van Nostrand, 1962)Google Scholar
15. Berg, J., Bengtsson, S. and Lundgren, P., Solid State El. 44, 22472252 (2000).Google Scholar