Nanofabrication And Atomic Functional Structuring
You have surely heard it said that “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” … to justify the need for optimism and maintaining a cheerful, positive attitude in the face of adversity … but the fact of the matter is that the valuable things in the world HARD to do … not just like scoring four touchdowns in the football championship, like Al Bundy and way too many others reliving their glory days from decades ago … SERIOUSLY HARD in a long-term, multi-decade sense … and the only way to get through it is to be a hardened realist, and that means slogging through, thorougly embracing the suck after that’s stopped being a slogan to get through a rough day on the beach.
It’s necessary to RAPIDLY BECOME IMMERSED … to the point where one feels like drowning is certain … only AFTER one has learned enough to understand why the pessimists were too optimistic and the optimists were completely off the charts, hopelessly delusional … is it possible to be a HARDENDED REALIST.
Getting There QUICKLY
Here is a proposed 200-module, year-long nanofabrication course for autodidacts, designed to complement Sam Zeloof’s AtomicSemi fab venture and the ZeroToASIC course:
Pre-Fundamentals (50 modules) BEFORE YOU START:
1-10: Autodidactic Learning, Self-Teaching IMMERSION … AND Why This Ain’t For 99.9% of The People Out There
11-20: Examples of Autodidactic Nanofabrication Projects and How They Have Financed Their Labs
21-30: Open-Source Tools, Resources for Nanofabrication, Sharing Resources and Financial Workarounds
31-40: Building A Home Lab for Building A Home Lab for Building A Home Lab for Nanofabrication
41-50: Safety Protocols, Best Practices, Other Stakeholders, Karens/Supporters and The LAW for Home Labs
Fundamentals (50 modules):
1-10: Introduction to Semiconductors and Devices
11-20: Solid State Physics and Quantum Mechanics
21-30: Crystallography and Materials Science
31-40: Cleanroom Protocols and Safety
41-50: Vacuum Systems and Plasma Physics
Lithography (30 modules):
51-60: Optical Lithography and Photoresists
61-70: Electron Beam Lithography
71-75: Nanoimprint Lithography
76-80: Advanced Lithography Techniques
Thin Film Deposition (30 modules):
81-90: Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)
91-100: Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
101-105: Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
106-110: Electrochemical Deposition
Etching and Patterning (30 modules):
111-120: Wet Chemical Etching
121-130: Dry Etching (RIE, ICP, etc.)
131-135: Lift-off Processes
136-140: Nanoscale Patterning Techniques
Characterization and Metrology (30 modules):
141-150: Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy
151-160: Electron Microscopy (SEM, TEM)
161-165: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
166-170: Electrical Characterization Techniques
Process Integration and Device Fabrication (30 modules):
171-180: CMOS Process Flow
181-185: MEMS and Sensor Fabrication
186-190: Photonic Device Fabrication
191-195: Quantum Device Fabrication
196-200: Advanced Packaging and 3D Integration
The course begins with a strong foundation in semiconductor physics, materials science, and cleanroom practices. Students will gain hands-on experience with various micro and nanofabrication equipment, including those used in Sam Zeloof’s AtomicSemi fab.
Lithography modules cover both conventional and advanced techniques, with an emphasis on electron beam lithography to align with AtomicSemi’s capabilities. Thin film deposition and etching modules provide a comprehensive overview of key processes in device fabrication.
Characterization and metrology modules familiarize students with essential tools for analyzing and optimizing fabrication processes. The course culminates with process integration and device fabrication modules, covering a range of application areas.
To complement the ZeroToASIC course, specific modules on CMOS process flow and the use of open-source PDKs and ASIC tools can be included. Students will learn to design and simulate their own ASICs using these resources and gain an understanding of the fabrication process behind them.
Throughout the course, students will work on practical projects that reinforce their learning and develop their skills in nanofabrication. Collaboration with the AtomicSemi fab and the ZeroToASIC community will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing and real-world application of course concepts.
By the end of this comprehensive program, autodidacts will have a strong foundation in nanofabrication and the ability to design and fabricate their own devices using cutting-edge open-source tools and resources.