DFG-SPP: Nanomaterial-based platform electronics for PUF circuits with extended entropy sources (NanoSec2)

In this project we investigate the potential of advanced NanoMaterial (NM) circuits manufactured in a modular platform technology to serve as Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) with enhanced properties. We will implement various entropy sources making use of the fact that NM-based FETs can be significantly manipulated by their environment and interface. This determines the FET characteristic and in case of charge traps hysteretic switching behavior. We will pursue nanocavities in the Carbon-NanoTube Field-Effect Transistor (CNTFET) structures to induce discrete modification of the gate architecture in order to further increase the entropy of the CNT-PUF. We will also investigate configurable CNT-FET circuits to provide an even higher level of entropy making use if hysteresis effects. Furthermore, we will examine cell selective erasability of the manufactured Circuit-PUFs, disallowing an attacker from accessing the inherent PUF secret in a low-cost manner. Building upon our previous works on non-invasive attacks against CNT-based PUFs, we will also test the resilience of the constructed CNT-PUFs against side-channel and fault-injection attacks.