SSJ_W90GQZ-61400034_Williams_ANU_20160621_-_redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

Section A: General Contract Information

Contracting Activity: U.S. Army International Technology Center

Pacific (ITC-PAC)

Purchase Request/Identification Number: W90GQZ-61400034

Project/Program Name: Near infrared silicon-based photodetector with dramatically enhanced efficiency

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options): $100,000

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

This requirement is to provide financing in support of the research project titled “Near infrared silicon-based photodetector with dramatically enhanced efficiency lead by Professor Jim Williams, Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and

Engineering, Australian National University. The main objective is to develop and fabricate an efficient near-infrared photodetector based on sub-band gap absorption in silicon achieved by hyper-doping with suitable impurities such as gold. A combination of ion implantation and pulsed laser melting will be used and the processing optimized to achieve impurity concentrations that exceed the solid solubility in silicon by several orders of magnitude.

This project will involve a 3-way collaboration between the Australian National University (ANU), the ARDEC Benet Labs and the University of

Dayton. The approach to achieving an efficient silicon-based near-infrared photodetector derives from a proof-of-principle study by ANU, ARDEC, and co-investigators from MIT, Harvard, and RPI published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications showing a device response at wavelengths out to 2200nm from silicon (Si) hyper-doped with gold (Au). More recently, ANU, Harvard and MIT collaborators have shown that it is possible to achieve an order of magnitude higher concentration of Au in Si in a regime where the pulsed laser melting

(PLM) results in a laterally non-uniform Au profile. Despite a filamentary Au arrangement in Si, dramatically improved absorption of light in the infrared occurs and this suggests that a much more efficient photodiode than the initial device is feasible. ANU’s expertise and facilities were key and critical to these accomplishments and they could not have happened without their participation.

This current project is focused on: understanding the impurity trapping and segregation processes that occur during PLM, the filamentary process at high impurity concentrations, improving the understanding to enable optimization of the optically active Au concentration (and other suitable impurities) in Si, and subsequently fabricating an optimized IR photodetector. The ANU will focus on: optimizing the ion implantation conditions and characterizing the material quality, soluble Au concentration and optical absorption before and after PLM using high resolution Rutherford backscattering (RBS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and optical measurements;

ARDEC will undertake and optimize the PLM processing; and UDayton will fabricate and characterize the photodetector devices. Along with other collaborators at Harvard, Albany, Illinois and Ottawa that bring further characterization and modelling/theoretical expertise to the project, ANU will attempt a full understanding of the PLM/solidification/segregation processes and the intriguing filamentary behavior in Si.

This project will open up opportunities for exploiting hyper-doping with a range of optically active impurities in Si.

The duration of this Research and Development is 12 months with an option for an additional 12 months. This acquisition will be a firm-fixed price purchase order in the amount of $50,000 for the basic period and $50,000 for the option 1 period, the total amount of $100,000.

The proposed contractor is: (the principal investigator (PI))

Professor Jim Williams

Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601

Australia

Tel: +61-2-6125-0373

Fax: +61-2-6125-0511

Email: Jim.Williams@anu.edu.au

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source

ITC-PAC program manager Dr. Robert Kania, found this project from a lead given to him by ARDEC researchers while he was searching areas of his expertise for potential sources of basic research. Professor Jim Williams and his group have exceptional expertise in the development of Near infrared silicon-based photodetector. This research is the only source directly relevant and related to the current efforts being worked by the Armaments Research, Development, and Engineering Command (ARDEC) as identified by ARDEC’s SME Jeffrey Warrender.

Professor Williams, and his outstanding capability in the area of constructing novel photodetectors through hyper-doping and its applications are of great interest to the ARDEC.

This funding is for research and development project titled “Near infrared silicon-based photodetector with dramatically enhanced efficiency”. Because this project will feature the latest scientific innovation in this field, there is no parallel value to be found in the commercial sector. ITC-PAC certifies the price of $50,000 for the first year, with an additional $50,000 for the option, as a fair and reasonable for this type of project. This certification is based on the following facts:

The funds will be used to support research and development efforts at the Australian National University, by Professor Jim Williams with collaborate work with Armaments Research, Development, and Engineering Command (ARDEC) in Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. The cost estimates are as follows:

Basic Period Material and supplies $10,500 Equip. & Facility $15,000 Grad. Student Labor $14,000 Post Doc. Researcher Labor $0 Travel cost: $10,500 Publication cost: $0 Total: $50, 000

Option 1 Period Material and supplies $10,500 Equip. & Facility $15,000 Grad. Student Labor $14,000 Post Doc. Researcher Labor $0 Travel cost: $10,500 Publication cost: $0 Total: $50, 000

The above mentioned cost is based on the following and considered to be fair and reasonable.

• Material and supplies are for:

Silicon wafers (polished both sides); ion implanter source materials, chemicals, liquid nitrogen, TEM grids and stubs, silicon processing and lab consumables; and Mechanical and Electrical Workshops (technical support).

[Details provided in attachment: US Army Budget Details 10th June 2016.docx]

Total expenses Material and supplies are = $10,500 These expenses for Material and supplies are fair and reasonable.

• Equipment & Facilities are for:

No hardware required but access to ANU National Infrastructure facilities (NCRIS ) is essential. These include access to accelerator (ion implanters and RBS systems), fabrication (film deposition and patterning) and electron microscopy/Raman/optical spectroscopy facilities.

[Details provided in attachment: US Army Budget Details 10th June 2016.docx]

Total expenses Equipment & Facilities = $15,000 These expenses for Equipment & Facilities are fair and reasonable.

• Graduate Student Labor are for:

Graduate Student scholarship support in lieu of Research assistance (Half time).

[Details provided in attachment: US Army Budget Details 10th June 2016.docx]

Total expenses Graduate Student Labor = $14,000 These expenses for Graduate Student Labor are fair and reasonable.

• Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Labor are for:

Emeritus staff member (at $0 salary), time is at no cost to the project.

Total expenses Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Labor = $0

• Travel costs are for:

The PI and one student are to travel from Canberra, Australia to Picatinny Arsenal, NJ US to do hands-on collaborative work with Jeff Warrender at ARDEC for up to 30 days.

[Details provided in attachment: US Army Budget Details 10th June 2016.docx] Total cost for travel = $10,500 This travel expense is fair and reasonable.

The Government will receive deliverables such as:

• Project Proposal

• Project Interim Report

• Project Final Report

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

ITC-PAC program manager, Dr. Robert Kania, found this project from a lead given to him by ARDEC researchers while he was searching areas of his expertise for potential sources of basic research. He searched for all sources that he identifies as technically capable. He found that the primary/lead organizations for this project are Professor Jim Williams, Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, who are considered the leading research scientists in the area of Novel Near infrared silicon-based photodetectors. This was concurred by the ARDEC SME back in the states, Jeffrey Warrender. Professor Williams is the only source identified expressing interest in developing proof of concept studies on this research and development project.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source Awards

This is a one-time purchase action, but ITC-PAC keeps searching areas of expertise for potential sources of basic research.

Section F: Determination

Technical/Requirements Personnel’s Certification:

As evidenced by signature below, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein which is their responsibility is both accurate and complete.

Date Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

KENNETH EVENSEN

Director, US ARMY ITC-PAC

Signature of Contracting Officer

Contracting Officer's Determination: I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer Signature of Contracting Officer

12 July 2016