Physics Professors Weigang Wang, Shufeng Zhang, and Collaborators Awarded NSF Future of Semiconductors Grant

Physics professors Weigang Wang and Shufeng Zhang, together with ECE Professor Tosiron Adegbija and collaborators from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have received a highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) Future of Semiconductors (FuSe2) Grant. Their proposal, titled “Ultrafast Energy Efficient Antiferromagnetic Tunnel Junctions,” aims to advance the development of superfast and energy-efficient semiconductor devices.

The team’s research focuses on exploring novel physics and materials that have the potential to revolutionize semiconductor technology. The energy consumption associated with computing has surged over the past decade due to the rapid growth of technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving, with significant energy loss occurring in the standby states of modern transistors. This project seeks to address these challenges by investigating a new class of devices that leverage the spin degree of freedom of electrons. Unlike traditional methods, information stored in these spins remains intact even when the power is turned off, paving the way for highly efficient memory and logic devices. The research specifically targets antiferromagnetic systems, where the spins in magnetic materials are oriented in opposite directions, resulting in zero net magnetization. These antiferromagnetic devices are predicted to exhibit unique properties, including large on/off ratios and energy-efficient operation. The project combines theoretical research to identify antiferromagnetic systems and discover new physical mechanisms with experimental efforts to fabricate and characterize these materials, ultimately aiming for implementation in next-generation computer memory systems.

Professor Wang will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project, with Co-PIs Shufeng Zhang, Tosiron Adegbija, Sara Majetich (Carnegie Mellon University), and Evgeny Tsymbal (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). The three-year, $1.9 million grant will support multiple graduate students and provide research opportunities for undergraduate students. Additionally, the project includes a comprehensive workforce development and outreach plan, featuring the creation of new degree programs in semiconductor technology and engagement initiatives aimed at high school students and teachers.