The IEEE has assumed a leadership position in the development of nanoelec¬tronics standards. The factors driving the development of these standards are the need for reproducibility of results, international collaboration, and a common means of communicating across traditional scientific disciplines. This activity is driven by the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC), an interdisciplinary group with members repre¬senting 21 IEEE societies. NTC is currently involved in a variety of standards efforts and activities. "IEEE Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes" was one of the first nanotechnology standards with which the IEEE became involved. This effort was driven by the need for a way to reproduce and prove lab results on a much larger scale and to establish common metrics and a minimum requirement for reporting. The standard's main purpose is to establish methods for the electrical characteriza¬tion of carbon nanotubes and the means of reporting performance and other data. These methods enable the creation of a suggested reporting standard that are used from the research phase through manufacturing as the technology is developed. Moreover, the standard recommends the necessary tools and procedures for validation.
It took more than two years to complete development of the IEEE 1650 standard, which was approved in December 2005. Since then, other standards bodies have been busy developing their own standards. In addition, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) has been exploring support for the adoption of IEEE 1650 by several interna¬tional bodies. For example, in collaboration with the NTC, IEEE-SA pursued a dual-logo agreement for the 1650 standard with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee 113, Working Group 3 Performance of Nanomaterials for Electrotechnical Components and Systems. Last November, the IEC TC 113 decided to adopt ANSI/IEEE Std1650 -2005 as a dual logo. IEEE P1690 Breakthroughs in nanotechnology have received greater attention during the past few years, in part due to significant advances in materials performance and processing tech¬niques. One potential impediment to wide¬spread introduction of carbon nanotubes used as additives in bulk materials is the lack of defined standards for their characterization. Also, methods for reporting performance and other data have not been established; each scientist or engineer has independently developed measurement procedures that may or may not be definitively comparable with the results of others. To address these concerns, IEEE-SA approved the creation of the IEEE P1690TM Working Group in late 2005. A team was tasked with developing "Standard Methods for the Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes Used as Additives in Bulk Materials." The standard will suggest procedures for characterizing and reporting data that will be used by research through manufacturing; methods will be indepen¬dent of processing routes used to fabricate the carbon nanotubes. The standard will rec¬ommend the necessary tools and procedures for validation.
The NESR Initiative The NanoElectronics Standards Roadmap (NESR) Initiative is working to create a framework through which the IEEE-SA and the nanoelectronics community can work in cooperation to define a roadmap for nano¬electronics standards that will: Identify high-value standards opportunities Frame near-term standards Leverage, not duplicate, existing sources Stimulate industry collaboration Accelerate nanoelectronics standards development Establish a framework for proactive management of standards Those involved in the NESR Initiative are responsible for developing and driving a standards roadmap that will help elec¬tronic nanotechnology innovations make a smooth transition from the laboratory to the marketplace in the communications, infor¬mation technology, consumer products and optoelectronics sectors. The NESR roadmap has gained considerable interest from repre¬sentatives of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors and the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative. Members are currently focusing on nanomaterials and devices that will have a short-term impact on industry, while also assessing the long-term needs of an elec¬tronics industry based on nanoelectronic architectures. Within these areas, standards have been prioritized by testing them against four criteria: Technology maturity: Is the technology well enough understood to standardize? Clear near-term applications: Does the standard eliminate near-term roadblocks, ensuring a rapid payback for the effort involved? High business value: Does the standard offer multiple device-circuit-application "threads"? Fits IEEE role - Nanoelectronics: Does the definition of electronics stretch a bit at the nanoscale level? On March 28, 2008, IEEE-SA approved the first NESR Project Authorization Request (PAR) to create a standards working group on "Nanomaterials Characterization and Use in Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing." The PAR is denoted PAR1784. The purpose of this standard is to enable the quick, low-risk adoption of nanomaterials into large-scale electronics manufacturing. In addition, a best set of common practices will be delin¬eated for use in semiconductor fabs. Efforts in nanomaterial research and development for use in semiconductor VLSI technology are increasing exponentially. The common availability of nanomaterials is allowing engineers to explore new methods to exploit the mechanical, electromagnetic, and quantum properties of nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoparticles-not just theoretically but experimentally. To exploit the enhanced properties of new nano-scale materials fully, industries (including the semiconductor industry) that use nano-enhanced materials must embrace a new set of best practices for large-scale manufacturing. What Benefits Do Standards Offer? Standards offer a major benefit to a tech¬nology by supporting its evolution. In fact, standards are the defining precursor of prod¬ucts whose intended performance they pre¬scribe. A variety of benefits are attributable to standards: They give end users confidence that products are safe and reliable, and that they will perform as they are intended. Standards establish consistent expecta¬tions and help ensure those expectations are met. Standards create a common language that manufacturers and end users can use to communicate on issues like quality and safety. Standards help promote product compat¬ibility and interoperability. Standards help overcome trade barriers for global markets. Standards foster the diffusion and adop¬tion of new technologies. In addition to giving participants in the development process early access to technical know-how, participants can influence how cer¬tain test or measurement guidelines can be documented, thereby affecting the content of the standard. Participating in the develop¬ment of IEEE 1650 is a good example of how companies can gain a competitive advantage by participating in the develop¬ment of standards. Participation in standards development also offers advantages for the public sector by spurring improved national competitive¬ness, education, and job creation. The Expanding Standards Community Participants from the public and private sectors have traditionally written most of the standards because they tend to derive the greatest benefit from them. Although the aca¬demic community has been relatively slow to get involved in standards development, the public and private sectors have often called upon them to provide expertise because of their experience in validating applications-oriented research. Having the public, private, and academic communities unite together to develop standards for international adoption is in everyone's best interests. Thinking Globally Standards development must be a global effort. Certain countries around the world are making it a primary part of their own research plans. For example, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has made the drafting of nanotechnology research standards part of its national basic research plan. Other countries are striving for leadership positions within standards organizations so that they can help shape the standards to which everyone must adhere. One of the many challenges that must be overcome is how to prioritize which stan¬dards to develop next, based on measurement best practices and characterization processes. We need to understand whether the measure¬ment tools available today are the right tools from an international perspective. Although international barriers must be taken into account, creating an international working collective will simplify the devel¬opment of standards and allow for broader acceptance. Currently, no one country is in complete control nor is there one standard that predominates, but global agreements will be necessary if nano standards develop¬ment is to stay in sync with the technologies themselves. This need creates opportunities for everyone. Standard development is a people project and virtually every standards development organizations could put your efforts to good use, whether you're an engi¬neering student, an academic, or someone who works in the public or private sectors. Participating in standards development is an excellent way to begin to establish oneself as an expert. While it doesn't take up much time, your reward can be increased visibility for you and your organization. This is the second of a two-part series about standards in nano technology.
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