Press Releases
Superconductive Components, Inc.
Receives Grant
for Nanocrystalline Strontium Ruthenate Research
CONTACT:
J. R. Gaines, Jr.
Vice President
(614) 486-0261
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- February 8, 2001 -- Superconductive Components, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SCCI) today announced it has received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I grant from the National Science Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to develop a novel method for making ultra-fine particles of phase pure (nanocrystalline) strontium ruthenate (SrRuO3) utilizing new coordination compounds.
Successful development of this compound is expected to be an integral step toward commercial production of high-density sputtering targets of SrRuO3. These targets are expected to be used for thin-film electrodes in the next generation of high capacity stack storage capacitors. One of the challenges facing the semiconductor industry is replacement of the traditional silicon dioxide/dual-doped poly silicon gate stack process, which has been the mainstay of Complementary Metal-Oxide-Silicon (CMOS) device manufacturing since its inception.
Strontium ruthenate is also recognized as a leading replacement material in dielectric and ferroelectric thin film devices because of its metal-like conductive oxide qualities. Commercial applications include production of thin-films of SrRuO3, which will specifically be used to produce dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) for the semiconductor industry.
One of the goals of this research is development of a molecular-level approach leading to future production of ultra-fine particles of phase-pure (nanocrystalline) strontium ruthenate. This powder will be used to develop a high-density strontium ruthenate ceramic material to be used commercially to produce thin-films of SrRuO3. These thin-films can also be used as a buffer layer between high-temperature superconductors and metals. SrRuO3 could become the electrode material of choice in the next generation of dielectric and ferroelectric devices, which utilize an electrode applied to either barium strontium titanate (BST) or lead zirconium titanate (PZT).
Superconductive Components, Inc. manufactures advanced ceramics such as superconductors, ferroelectric and optical materials for use in wire, cable, sensors, batteries, wireless and fiber optics systems. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Target Materials, Inc., manufactures thin film materials for photovoltaics, flat panel displays, electronic switches, hardness and decorative coatings. The Company is a global materials supplier with clients in more than 40 countries. Additional information is available at: http://www.superconductivecomp.com.
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