IP Library Granted Patent US 12,593,619
Granted Patent B1
US 12,593,619 · App. 18/136,508 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

System and method for electronic devices

Inventor: Wei Pan (San Ramon, CA)
Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
H10N60/128H10N60/0912H10N60/12H10N60/85H03K19/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,593,619
App. No.
18/136,508
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

The invention includes systems and methods pertaining to Josephson effect devices. This includes electronic devices such as transistors known as Josephson Junction Field Effect Transistors (JJFETs). An electronic device is provided that has a source region including a superconductor material, a drain region including a superconductor material, a gate region between the source and drain regions, and a semiconductor region including an excitonic insulator material.

Claims (57)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

a source region comprising a first superconductor material;

a drain region comprising a second superconductor material;

a gate region between the source and drain regions and comprising an oxide material and a metallic gate contact; and

a semiconductor region in contact with the source region, the drain region, and the gate region, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a heterostructure comprising:

a first barrier layer;

a second barrier layer; and

an excitonic insulator between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, wherein the excitonic insulator comprises:

an InAs layer; and

a GaSb layer.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to transition between a high conductance state and a low conductance state between the source region and the drain region as a function of a difference between a gate region bias voltage and a threshold voltage which is approximately 10 mV or less.

3 . The device of claim 1 having a superconducting transition temperature of approximately 50K or less.

4 . The device of claim 1 wherein the first superconductor material comprises at least one of LaSrCuO, YBCO, or MgB 2 .

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second superconductor material comprises at least one of LaSrCuO, YBCO, or MgB 2 .

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the oxide material comprises at least one of Al 2 O 3 or Hf 2 O 3 .

7 . The device of claim 1 wherein:

the InAs layer has a thickness of approximately 10 nm; and

the GaSb layer has a thickness of approximately 5 nm.

8 . The device of claim 1 wherein properties of the excitonic insulator are a function of material types of the InAs layer and the GaSb layer and thicknesses of the InAs layer and the GaSb layer.

9 . The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first barrier layer comprises an AlSb layer; and

the second barrier layer comprises an AlGaSb layer.

10 . An electronic device, comprising:

a Boolean circuit having:

a source region formed of a superconductor material;

a drain region formed of the superconductor material;

a gate region between the source region and drain region, the gate region formed of an oxide material and a metallic gate contact; and

a semiconductor region in contact with the source region, the drain region, and the gate region, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a heterostructure comprising:

a first barrier layer;

a second barrier layer; and

an excitonic insulator between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, wherein the excitonic insulator comprises:

an InAs layer; and

a GaSb layer.

11 . The device of claim 10 wherein the device is configured to transition between a high conductance state and a low conductance state between the source region and the drain region as a function of a difference between a gate region bias voltage and a threshold voltage which is approximately 10 mV or less.

12 . The device of claim 10 having a superconducting transition temperature of approximately 50K or less.

13 . The device of claim 10 wherein:

the InAs layer has a thickness of approximately 10 nm; and

the GaSb layer has a thickness of approximately 5 nm.

14 . The device of claim 10 wherein properties of the excitonic insulator are a function of thicknesses of the InAs layer and the GaSb layer.

15 . The device of claim 10 wherein:

the first barrier layer comprises an AlSb layer; and

the second barrier layer comprises an AlGaSb layer.

16 . A method comprising:

forming a superconductor source region;

forming a superconductor drain region;

forming an oxide gate region between the source and drain regions; and

forming semiconductor region in contact with the superconductor source region, the superconductor drain region, and the oxide gate region, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a heterostructure comprising:

a first barrier layer;

a second barrier layer; and

an excitonic insulator between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, wherein the excitonic insulator comprises:

an InAs layer; and

a GaSb layer.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising applying an approximate voltage of 10 mV or less to the gate region to cause a change in conductance between the superconducting source region and the superconducting drain region.

18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising applying a superconducting transition temperature of approximately 50K or less.

19 . The method of claim 16 wherein forming the exciton insulator of the semiconductor region comprises:

depositing the InAs layer having a thickness of approximately 10 nm; and

depositing the GaSb layer having a thickness of approximately 5 nm.

Assignments (1)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 5, 2026
From: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC
To: NNSA
Reel/Frame 074860/0844 →
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