International Journal of Nanoelectronics and Materials (IJNeaM)

Enhancing circuit development and layout implementation of benchmark circuit in 0.18-µm CMOS technology

Joel Matthew Thomas Matthew — 2025-01-07

Power consumption and delay are the most critical factors in circuit development and layout implementation. It is challenging to optimize all aspects simultaneously. This research addresses this challenge by analysing the power consumption and delay effects in benchmark circuit operation, C6288, using 0.18-µm CMOS technology operating at an optimal voltage of 1.6V. Additionally, this research also contributes to developing the initial layout implementation of a benchmark circuit with a 10% area reduction. By utilizing new layout techniques and simulations, the study has proven a significant decrease in power consumption and enhanced area optimization with a moderate increase in delay at 1.6V, all while maintaining acceptable performance standards. In addition, simulation results indicate less than a 10% deviation between pre and post-layout designs. Finally, through the properties of layout design and the research conclusions, it has provided valuable insights for the design of energy-efficient digital circuits in CMOS technology.

An enhanced buck-boost converter performance using a snubber circuit and advanced semiconductor devices

Rikhit Swargiary — 2025-01-07

Conventional buck-boost converter designs often suffer from efficiency losses and performance degradation due to switching transients and voltage spikes. To address these challenges, we propose the incorporation of a snubber circuit, which is designed to absorb and mitigate these detrimental effects. The study involves the design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of the proposed enhanced buck-boost converter. The analysis focuses on the impact of the snubber circuit on key performance metrics, including efficiency, thermal behavior, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction. The experimental results indicate that the snubber circuit significantly reduces voltage spikes and switching losses, leading to improved converter efficiency and reliability. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing converter designs in a variety of applications, from renewable energy systems to portable electronic devices, ultimately contributing to the advancement of power electronics technology. Finally, the performance of the proposed converter is analyzed using advanced semiconductor devices.

A study on physical properties of Coronene oxide as a function of number of oxygen atoms and temperature by density functional theory

Taif Talib Khalaf — 2025-01-10

The electronic properties like (HOMO, LUMO levels and Energy gap), and spectroscopic properties (IR spectra) in addition to thermodynamics characteristics like (Gibbs free Energy, Enthalpy, Entropy, and Heat capacity) of Coronene C24 and reduced Coronene oxide C24Ox where x=1-5 is a number of oxygen atoms and different temperature from (298 – 398) K were studied. The methodology utilized in this study involved the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the Hybrid functional B3LYP (Becke, 3-parameters, Lee –Yang-Parr) with 6-311G** basis sets. The band gap of Coronene (C24) 3.5 eV was calculated, while for reduced coronene oxide C24O - C24O5 has been varied from (1.68 to 0.89) eV due to broken symmetry and adding levels inside the energy gap. The IR intensity of C24O5 increases with increasing temperature between (298 and 398) K because of the number of excited atoms, the spectroscopic properties were compared with experimental results, in particular the Longitudinal Optical (LO) mode of vibration for graphene oxide 1582 cm-1 which agreed well. The Gibbs free energy and enthalpy decreased (in the negative sign) with an increased number of oxygen atoms and temperatures which means an exergonic reaction.

Fabrication of polymethyl methacrylate composite films with silanized SiC nanoparticles

Mohamad Azrol Bin Azmi — 2025-01-10

The properties of polymeric composites have often been altered with the incorporation of fillers. In this study, the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was filled with silicon carbide nano-particles (SiC). The PMMA/SiC composite films were prepared through solution casting by using acetone as solvent. The different loading of SiC ranging from 0.25 wt% to 1.00 wt% were incorporated into the PMMA matrix. The effect of SiC loading and silane coupling agent on PMMA/SiC composite films in terms of mechanical, physical, and morphological properties was investigated. It was found that the increasing SiC loading and the silane treatment had increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus but reduced the elongation at the break of PMMA/SiC composite films. At 0.75 wt% of silanized SiC, the tensile strength of the composite films was found to increase by 25 % from 30 to 37.5 MPa as compared to the virgin PMMA. Besides, the hardness of composite films was also increased with SiC loading and silane treatment. The presence of 1.00 wt% silanized SiC had increased 21.7% the hardness of the virgin PMMA, resulting in the increase of Shore A value from 69 to 84. By using silane treatment, better filler-matrix interaction was established as smoother fracture surfaces were observed through SEM micrographs and higher d-spacing was found in X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The PMMA/SiC composite films prepared were suitable to be used in sporting goods, additive manufacturing, and environmental and protective coatings.

Fabrication and simulation of silicon nanogaps pH sensor as preliminary study for Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) detection

M. I. Hashim — 2025-01-10

In this research, a silicon nanogap biosensor has the potential to play a significant role in the field of biosensors for detecting Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4) molecules due to its unique nanostructure morphology, biocompatibility features, and electrical capabilities. Additionally, as preliminary research for RBP4, a silicon nanogap biosensor with unique molecular gate control for pH measurement was developed. Firstly, using conventional lithography followed by the Reactive-ion etching (RIE) technique, a nanofabrication approach was utilized to produce silicon nanogaps from silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. The critical aspects contributing to the process and size reduction procedures were highlighted to achieve nanometer-scale size. The resulting silicon nanogaps, ranging from 100 nm to 200 nm, were fabricated precisely on the device. Secondly, pH level detection was performed using several types of standard aqueous pH buffer solutions (pH 6, pH 7, pH 12) to test the electrical response of the device. The sensitivity of the silicon nanogap pH sensor was 7.66 pS/pH (R² = 0.97), indicating that the device has a wide range of pH detecting capacity. This also includes the silicon nanogap biosensor validated by simulation, with the sensitivity obtained being 3.24 μA/e.cm² (R² = 0.98). The simulation of the sensitivity is based on the interface charge (Qf) that represents the concentration of RBP4. The results reveal that the silicon nanogap biosensor has excellent characteristics for detecting pH levels and RBP4 with outstanding sensitivity performance. In conclusion, this silicon nanogap biosensor can be used as a new electrical RBP4 biosensor for biomedical diagnostic applications in the future.

Gold-nanoparticle associated Deep Eutectic Solution mediates early bio detection of Ovarian Cancer

S. Uvambighai Devi — 2025-01-10

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have indeed been extensively researched in biological and photothermal therapy applications in recent years. This study aims to enhance the sensitivity of biosensors for early detection of ovarian cancer biomarkers by investigating the efficacy of DES-mediated surface functionalization of AuNPs. Additionally, the impact of DES on the stability and dispersion of AuNPs on SiO2 support is assessed to optimize sensor performance. A simple DES-mediated synthesis method for efficient amine surface functionalization of silicon dioxide (SiO2) to incorporate tiny AuNPs for antibody biosensors. Physical characterization [Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and 3D Profiler] and electrical characterization (Keithley) have been done to determine the functionalization of the modified IDE surface. SEM analysis indicated the resultant nanoparticles have truncated spherical shapes. There is just a peak recorded by UV-Vis at 504-540 nm with AuNPs due to the formation of monodispersed AuNPs. When the conjugation of DES with samples is measured, the curves are identical in form, and the highest peak after conjugation has remained at 230 nm but the SPR absorption peak becomes narrower and moves toward greater wavelengths, indicating the conjugation between the molecules. Furthermore, when the DES is conjugated with AuNPs, 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), antibody, and protein, the peaks gradually increased and became narrower, where O-H at 3280 cm-1, C-H at 2809 cm-1 and 2933 cm-1, CH2 at 1448 cm-1, CH3 at 1268 cm-1, C-OH at 1048 cm-1 and 1110 cm-1 and C-N+ at 844 cm-1 as analyzed by FTIR. Moreover, it can be observed that the 3D profilometer revealed a few red-colored areas, which are the portion that protrudes from the IDE surface. Based on the findings, it is possible to infer that this immunosensor does have the prospective to be used in clinical investigations for the precise detection of ovarian cancer or other biomarkers. The capacitance, transmittance, and resistivity profiles of the biosensor clearly distinguished between the antibody immobilization and the affinity binding. The presence of a DES-mediated synthetic approach increased the possibility of supporting different metal nanoparticles on SiO2 as the potential platform for biosensor applications.

Microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene nanowalls on varied substrates: A comparative study

Rucheng Zhu — 2025-01-14

We explored the growth rate and morphological characteristics of graphene nanowalls (GNWs) on copper (Cu), stainless steel (SUS), quartz and silicon (Si) substrates by changing the growth time using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MWPCVD). Furthermore, we investigated the impact of catalytic and non-catalytic substrates on the growth features of GNWs. The properties of GNWs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The growth of GNWs occurred just after supplying the precursor on the Cu substrate, but those on SUS, quartz and Si delayed about 5 min, 10 min and 15 min, respectively, due to the low catalytic activity of the substrate. Once the growth started, there was not much of a difference in the growth rate. The average growth rate was about 2 nm/s. The crystallinity of GNW was improved with increasing growth time. It was found that Cu is the best substrate to get high-quality GNWs, but MWPCVD is a suitable technique to obtain GNWs on a variety of substrates at relatively low temperatures.

Investigation of the antimicrobial properties of temperature-sensitive hydrogel containing silver sulfadiazine against various bacterial strains

Maha Mohammad AL-Rajabi — 2025-01-14

In burn wound management, infection poses a significant challenge, accounting for 75% of deaths in burn patients. Silver sulfadiazine is broadly used as an effective antibacterial agent for treating burns. Numerous researchers have explored various dosage forms of silver sulfadiazine, such as cream, ointment, topical spray, and hydrogel, for antimicrobial topical applications. Hydrogels offer appealing advantages over conventional drug delivery systems due to their sensitivity and responsiveness to stimuli, particularly temperature. Nevertheless, the comprehensive investigation of the antimicrobial properties of temperature-sensitive hydrogel containing silver sulfadiazine against different bacterial strains remains lacking. Thus, the main objective of the current study is to explore the antimicrobial properties of the temperature-sensitive hydrogel, incorporating silver sulfadiazine, against various bacterial strains colonized in burn wounds. To assess the antimicrobial activity of the temperature-sensitive hydrogel, inhibition zone diameters were measured against different types of Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The synthesized silver sulfadiazine-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel exhibited remarkable antimicrobial efficacy against these bacteria. Notably, there was no significant difference in the inhibition zone diameter between the silver sulfadiazine-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel and the positive control (p>0.05). These findings affirm that the silver sulfadiazine-loaded temperature-sensitive hydrogel holds promise as a drug delivery medium, demonstrating excellent antimicrobial activity against various bacterial strains that colonized in burn wounds.

Investigation of gold nanoparticles for Ganoderma fungi treatment in oil palm trees

Nur Liyana Razali — 2025-01-14

In recent years, oil palm has been one of the industries that contribute substantially to the gross domestic product of producing countries. As per Plantation Industries and Commodities, palm oil accounted for roughly 66.1% of the total export earnings, reaching RM 44.63 billion in 2022. However, several threats to palm trees, such as Ganoderma basal stem rot disease (BSR), pose risks to our country's gross domestic product. BSR, caused by the fungus Ganoderma boninense, leads to the breakdown and degradation of the lignin trunk of palm trees. Therefore, gold nanoparticles have been fabricated in this project because of their ability to treat fungi. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized in two forms: gold nanorods (GNRs) and gold nanobipyramids (GNBPs) utilizing a wet chemical technique called the Seed-Mediated Growth Method (SMGM). Two plasmon peaks were obtained for synthesized nanoparticles corresponding to transverse surface plasmon resonance (t-SPR) and longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (l-SPR). GNRs have a t-SPR peak at 536 nm and an l-SPR peak at 713 nm, while for GNBPs, a t-SPR peak was obtained at 563 nm and 809 nm for l-SPR peak. For structural properties, the intensity peak at the plane (111) for GNRs and GNBPs occurs at 38.19° and the plane (200) occurs at 44.39°. The surface density of GNRs is 65.26±3.44% and for GNBPs is 69.44±2.94%. For the Ganoderma treatment process, the observation was made for three samples; no control, GNRs and GNBPs. It was found that GNBPs have a high ability to inhibit fungal growth GNRs with no fungal found in their area. In the GNRs area, 20% of fungal growth was found, and there was 60% of fungal growth around no control. In conclusion, GNBPs successfully inhibited fungal growth due to their curvature and sharp edge tips that will interact with microbial cell membranes, resulting in membrane damage and leakage of cellular contents of fungi.

Study of temperature dependences and electrical properties of thin films of Ag2S quantum dots

Vladimir Gurchenko — 2025-01-14

The results of studying the electrical properties of thin films of colloidal quantum dots (QDs), Ag2S/SiO2 and Ag2S/SiO2/Au, are interesting and important for understanding the behavior of these materials. Additional studies made it possible to determine the temperature dependences of conductivity in the range from 300 to 360 K, which made it possible to study changes in the electrical properties of materials depending on temperature. Activation energy values obtained from linear approximations of current-voltage characteristics in Arrhenius coordinates have become key to determining energy barriers and conduction mechanisms in these systems. Decorating Ag2S quantum dots with plasmonic gold nanoparticles also has the potential to improve the electrical properties of materials and create new functional characteristics. The results obtained can have a wide range of applications in the field of nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, sensors and other technologies that require precise control of the electrical properties of materials at different temperatures. Decoration of Ag2S/SiO2 QDs with plasmonic gold nanoparticles leads to an increase in the band gap from 0.29 to 0.89 eV. This effect can be explained by the interaction between gold plasmons and Ag2S/SiO2 electrons, which leads to a change in the properties of the material. It has been shown that decorating Ag2S/SiO2 QDs with Au nanoparticles leads to a change in the type of conductivity. Finally, calculating the mobility of charge carriers according to the Mott-Gurney model allows for a deeper understanding of the conductivity mechanisms in the presented thin-film structures.

Development of 3.5GHz enhanced graphene patch antenna for 5G applications

Saidatul Hamidah A. Hamid — 2025-01-14

This paper explores the development of a circular patch antenna designed for 5G applications at 3.5 GHz. Enhanced graphene polylactic acid filaments were utilized to create 3D printed substrates with improved electrical and mechanical properties. Rapid prototyping techniques, specifically 3D printing and automated xurography, were employed to craft the antenna's conductive structures. The integration of nanomaterials into the substrate not only improved the antenna's performance but also addressed challenges related to dielectric constants, potentially eliminating the need for multiple board types. The prototype demonstrated a notable -47.9 dB return loss (S11) and a bandwidth of 3.63 GHz. This study highlights the potential of combining nanotechnology with rapid prototyping in antenna design, offering a cost-effective solution for small-scale laboratories. The proposed methodology supports green technology initiatives, the Environment, Social and Global (ESGs) values and ensures safety in nanomaterial handling, paving the way for advancements in nanoelectronics.

The effect of cation ordering on the structure, electrical and electronic properties of cubic spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4

Edi Yasa Ardiansyah — 2025-01-15

In this paper, we present the investigation of the impact of cation ordering on the structural, electrical, and electronic properties of a cubic spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄. Rietveld refinement using X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveals that LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ annealed at 700 °C adopts a well-ordered atomic arrangement in cubic spinel (SG = P4₃32). Then, it is transformed to a disordered cubic spinel (SG = Fd-3m) at higher temperatures (> 800 °C). Impedance spectroscopy is employed to evaluate the dielectric and electrical properties in the temperature range of 0 to 25^oC within the frequency range between 10 Hz and 100 kHz. The Cole-Cole plot indicates that grain boundaries contribute significantly to electrical conductivity and that bulk resistance decreases with increasing temperature. The AC conductivity analysis shows that the electrical conductivity of well-ordered and disordered cubic spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ exhibits thermal activation and obeys Jonscher's universal power law. Furthermore, the electronic properties of cubic spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ with the space groups of Fd-3m and P4₃32 are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) plane-wave method. The electronic analysis of the cubic spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄(SG = Fd-3m) indicates stronger bonding between oxygen and transition metal elements compared to the LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄(SG = P4₃32) structure. Therefore, LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ with the Fd-3m space group exhibits high structural stability, making it a favourable cathode material for high-voltage rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Single-step hydrothermal fabrication of nanorice-shaped fluorine-doped tin oxide for enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells

N.K.A Hamed — 2025-01-15

A one-step method to synthesize nanorice fluorine-doped tin oxide (nr-FTO) was successfully applied to a bare FTO substrate via a hydrothermal process. This technique successfully creates uniform films of nr-FTO with spherical morphology. According to FESEM analysis, FTO nanorice has an average grain size of 54.8 nm in length and 21.0 nm in diameter. This technique provides a simple fabrication procedure to create nanorice FTO thin films without requiring an extra seed layer. The data from XRD analysis and the d-spacing values obtained from TEM imaging are in good agreement, further demonstrating the crystalline character of the synthesized nr-FTO. The chemical analysis provided by the EDS results further indicates the excellent purity of the nanorice FTO thin film. The one-step hydrothermal synthesis method described here offers a quick and effective way to create high-quality nr-FTO thin films for various uses.

Removal of methylene blue using trifunctional magnetic polyethersulfone microcapsule: Process parameters and optimization study

Suh Cia Yong — 2025-01-16

ABSTRACT
Water pollution from dye-contaminated effluents poses a critical environmental threat. Current dye removal methods often rely on activated carbon, which is expensive and challenging to recover. This study focuses on the removal of methylene blue (MB), a cationic dye, using trifunctional polyethersulfone (PES)-encapsulated polydimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride-functionalized iron oxide (PDDA-Fe3O4) microcapsules with adsorptive, catalytic, and magnetic properties. The negatively charged PES facilitates MB adsorption through electrostatic interactions, while Fe3O4 enhances Fenton degradation and imparts magnetic responsiveness. Characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, confirmed the presence of PDDA-coated Fe3O4 and the formation of porous structures and finger-like cavities in the microcapsules. Process parameters such as microcapsule loading (10-30 g/L), MB concentration (10-50 ppm), pH (2-10), contact time (60-240 min), and H2O2 concentration (0.1-1 mol/L) were optimized using response surface methodology with a central composite design. Optimal conditions for MB removal (92.94%) were achieved with 21 g/L of microcapsules, 25 ppm of MB, pH 7, 127 minutes of contact time, and 0.45 mol/L of H2O2. These results demonstrate the efficacy of PDDA-Fe3O4@PES microcapsules for dye removal and suggest their potential for application in industries such as textiles and cosmetics, which generate high volumes of dye-contaminated wastewater.

Exploring the nanonisation physical strategies for nano-prebiotics production

Ainaa Abdul Kahar — 2025-01-17

Prebiotics, non-digestible carbohydrate is consumed to improve the survival of probiotics in gut microbiota. The internalisation of prebiotics into probiotics potentially ensures survival and targeted delivery. To achieve the internalisation of prebiotic sources, nanonisation had been implemented to reduce the size of polysaccharides to nano size. In this study, two nanonisation techniques were applied which were water bath and probe sonication. Different sonication power was used at 50 and 100% amplitude for probe and water bath sonication at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 min. The maximum particle size reduction for Arabic gum can be determined by probe sonication treatment at 100% amplitude for 12 min with a 35% reduction from 253.98 nm to 165.43 nm, about 35% of its original size. Significant size reduction was observed from maltodextrin in probe sonicator for 6 min at 100% amplitude where the 81% reduction from 938.96 nm to 180.55 nm. The in vitro study on sonicated prebiotics also showed comparable viability of Lactobacillus plantarum compared to glucose of carbon-source. Therefore, nanonisation on prebiotics can be potentially applied to the internalisation process to ensure the successful delivery system of probiotics.

Design and simulation of gate and channel engineered dopingless tunnel FET

Ali Saeed Alzahrani — 2025-01-17

This work presents an innovative device design of a dopingless tunnel field effect transistor (DL-TFET). The device presented in this work is a double gate that uses dual oxide, a dual gate material, and a silicon germanium (SiGe) channel to boost the performance of the proposed device. As such, the device is named a gate and channel engineered dopingless tunnel field effect transistor (GCE-DL-TFET). The use of a high-k material and a suitable work function at the gate and the SiGe channel has considerably enhanced the performance of the GCE-DL-TFET. A fair investigation of the GCE-DL-TFET device with the DL-TFET device reveals significant improvements in ON-current (ION), ION/IOFF ratio, subthreshold slope (SS), and cut-off frequency (fT). The proposed device shows the following increases: ~200 times in ION, 2.5 times in ION/IOFF, and 20 times in fT, as well as 70% improvement in SS. The transient analysis indicates the following decreases: 84% in transient-ON delay and 62% in transient-OFF delay in the GCE-DL-TFET-constructed inverting amplifier in contrast to the DL-TFET-based inverting amplifier.