Could Graphene Become the Next Silicon?

[sanman]

Yes, graphene will probably show up in interconnects before showing up on chips themselves.

The first graphene transistors will be for RF communication.

Then we'll gradually see it showing up in other micro-electronics.

 

[Hans de Vries]

IBM Research has demonstrated an optical link using a graphene photodetector

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...J0MHSBQE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN?articleID=224200681

To achieve the world's first optical data link using graphene, IBM fabricated an asymetrical metal-graphene-metal FET that used palladium and titanium as the source and drain electrodes, respectively, and graphene as the channel. Photons hitting the graphene create electron-hole pairs which would ordinarily recombine in the absence of a strong electric field, but are prevented from doing so by the interdigitated source and drain which intensifies the built-in potential profile of the different metals within the channel.

Regards, Hans

 

[sanman]

Could graphene achieve superconductivity?

http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.136803

Room temperature superconductivity? @ STP conditions?

Now that would truly be amazing!

 

[Frame Dragger]

Could graphene achieve superconductivity?

http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.136803

Room temperature superconductivity? @ STP conditions?

Now that would truly be amazing!

I don't believe it can, without materials or other science beyond current abilities. Then again, maybe they found some amazing material to dope it with (they mention that in the abstract) and they can make the leap to manfucaturing? The idea of doped carbon as a room temp superconductor that could be reasonably manufactured would be a true leap forward, and one I never expected to see in my lifetime.

That said, Hans' post about a Graphene photodetector almost had me weeping for joy. The more uses that this material can be purposed for, and the easier it is to manufacture, the sooner we'll have it in our computers.

I still think interconnects first as you said sanman... maybe optical links? It might not be a superconductor, but I'd take it! Besides, I'm tired of the occasional computer frying and then getting a whiff of Silane gas... which is truly wretched stuff.

 

[sanman]

Quasi freestanding two-dimensional conductor with massless charge carriers

Quasi freestanding two-dimensional conductor with massless charge carriers:

http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/38...imensional-conductor-with-massless-charg.html

translation: there's gold in that graphene!

intercalation of gold atoms between graphene and substrate increases distance between them, to promote electronic decoupling and thus approach the idealized qualities of individual freestanding graphene sheets

 

[sanman]

Graphene goes green:

http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2742

New, Simple Technique Enables Large-Scale Production of Graphene at Room Temperature

 

[Giulio]

Here's a theoretical work on band gap engineering by in plane deformation.

http://arxiv.org/find/all/1/all:+AND+giulio+cocco/0/1/0/all/0/1

 

[Hans de Vries]

New Graphene Fabrication Method Uses Silicon Carbide Template

The new technique has been used to fabricate an array of 10,000
top-gated graphene transistors

http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?nid=61435

Regards, Hans

 

[Hans de Vries]

IBM demos 155 GHz Graphene transistor with a 40 nm gate length

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/45649

Some links to previous work of the group:

Feb 5, 2010: 100 GHz with 240nm gate length.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/41643

Jan 5, 2009: 26 GHz with 150nm gate length.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/37204


Regards, Hans

 

[Astronuc]

I.B.M. Researchers Create High-Speed Graphene Circuits
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/technology/10chip.html

. . . In the Science paper, the I.B.M. researchers describe a demonstration in which they deposited several layers of graphene on a silicon wafer, then created circuits based on graphene transistors and components known as inductors. They demonstrated frequency mixing up to speeds of 10 gigahertz.

In the past I.B.M. has created stand-alone graphene transistors, but not complete electronic circuits.
. . . .

Same story at PhysicsWorld
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/46237