RESEARCHERS IN CHIP BREAKTHROUGH
Team from China and US creates graphene semiconductor in move that could transform computing
A Chinese-US research team has synthesised a functional semiconductor out of graphene for the first time, in a possible leap forward for superfast computing beyond silicon chips.
Graphene is a simple material, made up of just a single layer of carbon atoms, said to be a million times thinner than human hair. But it is stronger than almost anything else in nature, and beats silicon hands down when it comes to electronic potential.
Ever since graphene was discovered in 2004, scientists have tried to use the material, in combination with other carbon materials, to devise a new kind of chip – one that would use less power and work faster than any semiconductor in existence.
This long-elusive feat might now be close to reality, according to nano scientists at Tianjin University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, whose findings were published in the science journal Nature.
State media hailed the feat as a momentous step forward in chip manufacturing.
“This research has not only maintained graphene’s remarkable stability but also introduced fresh electronic traits, clearing the path for graphene-based chips,” Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily said in a report yesterday.
The study was led by professors Ma Lei from Tianjin University and Walt de Heer from Georgia Tech. Both have focused on graphene electronics and other two-dimensional materials since they set up the Tianjin International Centre for Nanoparticles and Nanosystems at Tianjin University in 2018.
Known as the first stable two-dimensional material at room temperature, graphene’s distinctive electronic structure also means it has zero “bandgap” – meaning there is no energy difference when electrons in semiconductors jump between low and high energy bands. The lack of this natural gap hinders graphene’s semiconductor capabilities, making it less suitable for electronic devices.
Overcoming this challenge without losing graphene’s intrinsic properties was a crucial step towards its practical use in electronics, Ma told China Business Network.
“The reason our research is valued is that it can truly make graphene electronics practical in the future and remove the biggest obstacle.”
The new method creates a special layer on graphene that generates the needed gap for electrons and allows them to move very quickly, much faster than in silicon and similar materials.
This is a big step forward for using graphene in electronic devices, giving it the right properties to function well as a semiconductor.
To achieve this breakthrough, Ma and his team utilised a method called quasi-equilibrium annealing, which involves carefully heating and cooling a material to modify its structure.
The process begins with heating a silicon carbide substrate in a furnace and then maintaining it at various temperatures for specific durations. This results in the formation of smooth, flat surfaces, ideal for adding a layer known as “epigraphene”.
The layer is crucial as it introduces a necessary electron gap, making graphene suitable for electronic devices.
It also ensures that graphene is durable and easy to work with, holding out promise for its widespread commercial application in electronic devices.
This research has … introduced fresh electronic traits, clearing the path for graphene-based chips SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DAILY