Overview

The Focus Center for Functional Engineered Nano Architectonics (FENA) is on a mission to "discover new nanoelectronics materials and physical processes of devices, which enable extensible information processing systems with enhanced functionality and to create new applications for the semiconductor and defense industries."

Leveraging FENA's years of experience with its established technical competencies and development of an excellent administrative infrastructure will propel FENA towards exciting frontier nanomaterials, novel devices and assessment of their fundamental scientific and technological limits.

Research Focus

FENA's focus enables the extension of cost effective dimensional and functional scaling requiring the discovery and development of device centric new material design, synthesis, assembly, switching concepts, state variables, fabrication and integration paradigms. Each of the six FENA themes is led by a prominent leader in their respective field.

• Physical Fabrics & Drivers - Physical fabrics are scalable to full circuits for the realization of architectural systems and platforms through collaboration with Structures and Devices, Circuits and Modules, Connectivity, Information Systems Platform Design and Multi-Scale Systems Centers.
• Processes and Devices - This theme studies nano-scaled materials, physical mechanisms and principles used to implement computation and sensing that includes cold carrier injection, phase transitions, matter tunneling, and surface energy dissipation.
• Carbon Electronics - This theme explores the unique properties of single layer carbon-based materials for novel devices based on atomic layer coupling, spatial confinement, and other quantum and many body effects (e.g., Klein tunneling, coupling of bilayers) at the atomic scale.
• Correlated Electron Materials - This theme aims at identifying new materials with high electron correlations such as ferroelectric and multiferroic materials to extend functionalities and the performance limits of CMOS through electro-magnetic effects at the atomic scale.
• Functional Materials - This theme is focused on creating a set of innovative nanoscale patterning and new assembly methods for functional nanostructures to support Theme 1 drivers as well as to promote cost effective manufacturing.
• Patterning and Assembly - This theme is focused on creating a set of innovative nanoscale patterning and new assembly methods for functional nanostructures to support Theme 1 drivers as well as to promote cost effective manufacturing.
• Discovery Initiative - This new Discovery Initiative aims at funding high-risk blue-sky projects based on new discoveries in basic science from within and outside of the Center and to further our mission-oriented research.

Center Management

Center Director

Dr. Kang Wang

Executive Committee

The Executive Director covers daily operations and program development. The Executive Committee, which includes all theme leaders, helps evaluate technical progress and influence the technical path and direction.