IBM carbon nanotube transistor concept drawing and performance (via IBM & NANO Letters)
"We are reaching the physical limits [of silicon]" - Aaron Franklin, researcher, at IBM Watson Research Center. What Franklin is predicting as an inevitable end, is 10 nanometers. At that point and below it becomes difficult to control a transistor. Intel's Ivy Bridge 3D transistor is about to reach that limit, but what happens then?
Franklin continued, "We've made nanotube transistors at aggressively scaled dimensions, and shown they are tremendously better than the best silicon devices." The team from IBM created a 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistors. No transistor of its size can compete with the nanotube transistor's efficiency. The team placed the nanotube on top of an insulator, and connected the ends with electrical gates in a two-step process. The process ensured that the tube would not be damaged. The potential for a complete silicon replacement was demonstrated successfully. However, the tech does come with a set of challenges.
Making a pure batch of carbon nanotubes is the first issue. Placing, aligning, and connecting large numbers of these transistors is the biggest issue. As with all challenges, with enough time, money, and talent they will be toppled quickly. The future is one made of carbon.
Cabe
Franklin continued, "We've made nanotube transistors at aggressively scaled dimensions, and shown they are tremendously better than the best silicon devices." The team from IBM created a 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistors. No transistor of its size can compete with the nanotube transistor's efficiency. The team placed the nanotube on top of an insulator, and connected the ends with electrical gates in a two-step process. The process ensured that the tube would not be damaged. The potential for a complete silicon replacement was demonstrated successfully. However, the tech does come with a set of challenges.
Making a pure batch of carbon nanotubes is the first issue. Placing, aligning, and connecting large numbers of these transistors is the biggest issue. As with all challenges, with enough time, money, and talent they will be toppled quickly. The future is one made of carbon.
Cabe
