ECE PhD Proposal Review: Meruyert Assylbekova

PhD Proposal Review: Aluminum Nitride and Scandium-doped Aluminum Nitride Materials and Devices for Beyond 6 GHz Communication

Meruyert Assylbekova

Location: Zoom Link

Abstract: With almost all of the sub-­6 GHz spectrum now being allocated, current bandwidth shortage has motivated the exploration of untapped frequencies beyond 6 GHz for future broadband wireless communication. Shift to higher frequency spectra is expected to deliver a significant performance improvement in network capacity, data rates, latency, and coverage. These refinements will enable the development of new life­changing technologies such as Vehicle to Everything (V2V to V2X), ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT), and Augmented and Virtual reality (AR and VR). Among a variety of novel 5G applications, the implementation of 5G mobile broadband imposes especially demanding specifications on Radio Frequency Front­End (RFFE) architectures. 5G smartphones are expected to carry over the legacy sub-­6 GHz bands, which translates into an increased number of filters.
In this context, the first part of this work will introduce lithographically defined Aluminum Nitride (AlN) piezoelectric microacoustic resonators as a promising solution for the implementation of future minituarized adaptive RFFEs.
While AlN has been a material of choice for acoustic filters for over two decades, future technologies are calling for a material with superior piezoelectric strength. It has been shown that the piezoelectric activity of AlN can be enhanced by partially substituting Al with Sc to form AlScN. Thus, the second part of this work will explore material properties of AlScN along with the challenges that need to be addressed to take full advantage of its piezoelectric and ferroelectric strength. Last, AlScN resonators and filters will be demonstrated as promising candidates for the future beyond 6GHz technologies.