Micro and Nano Technologies Based on Wide Band Gap Materials for Future Transmitting Receiving and Sensing Systems (NANOCOM)

Research Project, 2011 – 2015

The implementation of Intelligent Micro Systems (IMS) will require the achievement of new components that are reliable and able to manage simultaneously high RF powers and reconfigurability properties (such as changing output power and bandwidth requirements). A successful integration of nanostructured materials and novel sensors and actuators in RF Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (RF-MEMS) switches will enable miniaturized reconfigurable microwave components and systems with very high power handling and reliability capabilities (e.g. adaptive transmitters and frequency-agile robust receivers). Therefore, the main concept of NANOCOM to realize novel types of microwave functions (reconfigurable front-ends) combining nanostructured materials and RF-MEMS low-loss switching networks is in line with the objectives reported in the previous lines of the ENIAC 2010 Annual Work Programme. Sensors and actuators are important for environmental and greenhouse monitoring where for example the carbon cycle is monitored and greenhouse gases and their corresponding fluxes are evaluated. These include methane, CO2, NOx and O2.Satellites are used for wide area sensing and the possibility of combining such sensors with wireless data transmission and communication is very attractive. The same applies to wireless telemetry approaches for transmitting power and data to and from sensors located inside parts that are likely to be subjected to deformation. Micromachined components made for example on GaN may be used as actuators but also as varactors with highly linear features that could serve to signal tuning. Systems comprised of nitride-based sensors and actuators combined with nitride transistors and MEMS will allow the realization of complex functions in integrated form and will allow the realization of energy efficient systems. The successful implementation of the objective mentioned above, coupled with a thorough assessment of the market and the needs of end-user/industrial partner of the consortium, will lead to the production of four demonstrators in order to prove the feasibility of the various technologies and their integration. As described above, the NANOCOM objectives contribute directly to several scientific and technical objectives of the ENIAC Priority, addressing several requirements specified in work programme, SP2 and also SP3.