Cross-Bridge Kelvin resistor structures for reliable measurement of low contact resistances and contact interface characterization

The parasitic factors that strongly influence the measurement accuracy of Cross-Bridge Kelvin Resistor (CBKR) structures for low specific contact resistances (rhoc) have been extensively discussed during last few decades and the minimum of the rhoc value, which could be accurately extracted, was estimated. We fabricated a set of various metal-to-metal CBKR structures with different geometries, i.e., shapes and dimensions, to confirm this limit experimentally and to create a method for contact metal-to-metal interface characterization. As a result, a model was developed to account for the actual current flow and a method for reliable rhoc extraction was created. This method allowed to characterize metal-to-metal contact interface. It was found that in the case of ideal metal-to-metal contacts, the measured CBKR contact resistance was determined by the dimensions of the two-metal stack in the area of contact and sheet resistances of the metals used

Cross-bidge Kelvin resistor (CBKR) structures for measurement of low contact resistances

A convenient test structure for measurement of the specific contact resistance (ρc) of metal-semiconductor junctions is the CBKR structure. During last few decades the parasitic factors which may strongly affect the measurements accuracy for ρc < 10-6 Ω • cm2 have been sufficiently discussed and the minimum of the ρc to be measured using CBKR structures was estimated. We fabricated a set of CBKR structures with different geometries to confirm this limit experimentally. These structures were manufactured for metal-to-metal contacts. It was found that the extracted CBKR values were determined by dimensions of the two-metal stack in the contact area and sheet resistances of the metals used. \ud Index Terms—Contact resistance, cross-bridge Kelvin resistor (CBKR), sheet resistance, test structures, metal, silico

Systematic TLM Measurements of NiSi and PtSi Specific Contact Resistance to n- and p-Type Si in a Broad Doping Range

We present the data on specific silicide-to-silicon contact resistance (ρc) obtained using optimized transmission-line model structures, processed for a broad range of various n- and p-type Si doping levels, with NiSi and PtSi as the silicides. These structures, despite being attractive candidates for embedding in the CMOS processes, have not been used for NiSi, which is the material of choice in modern technologies. In addition, no database for NiSi–silicon contact resistance exists, particularly for a broad range of doping levels. This letter provides such a database, using PtSi extensively studied earlier as a reference

In situ characterization of mesoporous Co/CeO2 catalysts for the high-temperature water-gas shift

Mesoporous Co/CeO2 catalysts were found to exhibit significant activity for the high-temperature water-gas shift (WGS) reaction with cobalt loadings as low as 1 wt %. The catalysts feature a uniform dispersion of cobalt within the CeO2 fluorite type lattice with no evidence of discrete cobalt phase segregation. In situ XANES and ambient pressure XPS experiments were used to elucidate the active state of the catalysts as partially reduced cerium oxide doped with oxidized cobalt atoms. In situ XRD and DRIFTS experiments suggest facile cerium reduction and oxygen vacancy formation, particularly with lower cobalt loadings. In situ DRIFTS analysis also revealed the presence of surface carbonate and bidentate formate species under reaction conditions, which may be associated with additional mechanistic pathways for the WGS reaction. Deactivation behavior was observed with higher cobalt loadings. XANES data suggest the formation of small metallic cobalt clusters at temperatures above 400 °C may be responsible. Notably, this deactivation was not observed for the 1% cobalt loaded catalyst, which exhibited the highest activity per unit of cobalt.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Highly selective oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide on transition metal single atom coordination.

Shifting electrochemical oxygen reduction towards 2e- pathway to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), instead of the traditional 4e- to water, becomes increasingly important as a green method for H2O2 generation. Here, through a flexible control of oxygen reduction pathways on different transition metal single atom coordination in carbon nanotube, we discovered Fe-C-O as an efficient H2O2 catalyst, with an unprecedented onset of 0.822 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M KOH to deliver 0.1 mA cm-2 H2O2 current, and a high H2O2 selectivity of above 95% in both alkaline and neutral pH. A wide range tuning of 2e-/4e- ORR pathways was achieved via different metal centers or neighboring metalloid coordination. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the Fe-C-O motifs, in a sharp contrast to the well-known Fe-C-N for 4e-, are responsible for the H2O2 pathway. This iron single atom catalyst demonstrated an effective water disinfection as a representative application

Зависимость эффективности биологической обратной связи по параметрам ритма сердца от вариаций геомагнитного поля

Протягом багатоденного моніторингу біологічного зворотного зв’язку (БЗЗ) за параметрами варіабельності серцевого ритму встановлено залежність ефективності БЗЗ від геліогеофізичної обстановки. У випробуваних з переважанням симпатичної активності є тенденція до більш ефективного біоуправління в умовах геомагнітної збуреності а також стабільного напряму міжпланетного магнітного поля. Навпаки, у випробуваних з переважанням вагусної активності БЗЗ є ефективнішім за умов відсутності геомагнітних збурювань а також при змінах полярності міжпланетного магнітного поля. Таким чином, геліогеофізичну обстановку слід ураховувати при аналізі ефективності біоуправління.Through days-long monitoring of biofeedback parameters of heart rate variability the dependence of biofeedback effectiveness on the geocosmic factors was established. In subjects whose nervous system is dominated by sympathetic type of reactivity, the biofeedback effectiveness tends to a better biocontrol under conditions of changes in interplanetary magnetic field or conditions of stable orientation of the interplanetary geomagnetic field. Individuals with prevalence of vagal activity usually are more effective in the biofeedback session if there are no geomagnetic disturbances as well as under conditions of changes in the interplanetary magnetic field polarity. Thus, the geocosmic factors should be taken into account when biofeedback effectiveness is analyzed