The ability to manufacture nanostructures has advanced enormously over the past few decades and nanoengineering has become a well-established field, so that more and more applications take advantage of the new technological potential and appealing properties.

Figure 1: Vertically aligned CNT forest on Si substrate

One of the most active fields in trying to take advantage of the nanoscale world is electronics, in particular with the ability to pattern nanoscale electrical contacts and interconnects.

Many different materials are being explored for replacing traditional materials at the nanoscale. These include graphene, carbon nanotubes, copper and silicon nanowires, silver nanoparticles, etc.

As device dimensions shrink in the nanometer range and new materials are explored, the underlying physics of contact, interconnect formation and interconnect reliability need to be understood and characterised.

The Electronic Interconnects group at NPL is working in collaboration with Surrey University in a project aimed at developing characterisation tools (mechanical, thermal and electrical) for nano interconnects systems based on nano-carbon.

Industrial Advisory Group

The IAG is a committee of representatives from across industry and whose purpose is to guide and monitor the progress of research this programme.

Read the invitation to Nano Interconnects IAG (www.npl.co.uk/ei/nei/iag)