Graphene and Silicene: Beyond the Hype?

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In summary, there has been a lot of hype surrounding Graphene and Silicene, with discussions about their potential use in the semiconductor industry. However, there is not much concrete information available beyond the news released by IBM and the ongoing patent war. The high cost and difficulty of manufacturing these materials make it unlikely for them to replace traditional silicon in the near future, especially as Intel is already struggling with shrinking their technology. It may take more than 5 years for significant improvements in computer performance to be achieved using these materials.
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cdux
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A lot of hype is out there about both of them (especially the latter) and I was wondering if there is more concrete information about them other than the news IBM posted on a circuit 2 years ago and the patent war about Graphene transistors involving Samsung and IBM among others. Also, what's up with Silicene? Is it of any importance or is the hype there only because it is based on Si?
 
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Hype or not hype, the amount of money required to integrate them into semiconductor industry is huge due to the extremely difficult manufacture process. This factor alone stops them to replace traditional silicon, until silicon process can not be used with satisfactory result.
 
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It sounds right, though it might not be long that might be needed and hence to need a new basis, since I've heard Intel only talks about ~10nm confidently. Adding some hype into it, it might be only next iteration of shrinking that they'll start not being able to shrink properly anymore. It already appears they need more than 5 years to make computers noticeably faster (in past decades it only took a year to double their performance).
 
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1. What is graphene and silicene?

Graphene and silicene are two-dimensional allotropes of carbon and silicon, respectively. They are composed of a single layer of atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice structure.

2. What properties make graphene and silicene unique?

Graphene and silicene have exceptional mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties. They are the thinnest and strongest materials known, have high electrical and thermal conductivity, and are transparent and flexible.

3. What are the potential applications of graphene and silicene?

Graphene and silicene have potential applications in various industries, including electronics, energy storage, biomedicine, and aerospace. They can be used to make faster and more efficient transistors, batteries, sensors, and drug delivery systems, among others.

4. Are there any challenges in using graphene and silicene?

One of the main challenges in using graphene and silicene is their production on a large scale. Current methods for synthesizing these materials are expensive and time-consuming. There are also challenges in integrating them into existing technologies and ensuring their stability and reliability.

5. What is the current state of research on graphene and silicene?

Graphene and silicene are still relatively new materials, and research on them is ongoing. Scientists are exploring different methods for producing them and investigating their properties and potential applications. There is also a focus on understanding their behavior at the atomic level to further enhance their properties and overcome any challenges in their use.

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