World’s First Functional Graphene Semiconductor Chip
The leading scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta announced the creation of the world’s first fully functional semiconductor chip based on graphene. A study led by Professor of Physics Valta de Hera was published in the journal Nature on January 3. This breakthrough in electronics has the potential to enhance the speed of traditional computers and facilitate the development of new materials for quantum calculations.
The newly developed material, known as semiturizing epitaxial graphene (SEC), possesses increased electron mobility compared to traditional silicon. This allows electrons to move with significantly lower resistance. The creation of transistors capable of operating at terahertz frequencies, which are ten times faster than existing silicon transistors, is made possible by this advancement.
de Heer describes the SEC production method as a modified version of a well-known technology that has existed for over 50 years. By heating silicon carbide to a temperature of over 1000 °C, silicon evaporates from the surface, leaving behind a carbon-rich surface which transforms into graphene.
Graphene, a single-layer sheet of carbon atoms, acts as a superior conductor compared to silicon, facilitating the movement of electrons. Previous attempts to integrate graphene into electronics faced challenges due to the lack of a bandgap required for controlling the on and off states of transistors. However, de Hera’s work showcased that by chemically binding atoms to graphene, it is possible to create a material with the necessary bandgap.
Researchers highlight that graphene semiconductors could be pivotal in quantum calculations as electrons in graphene exhibit quantum-mechanical wave properties at low temperatures. De Hera emphasizes that “one of the main aspects of graphene electronics is that we can harness the quantum-mechanical wave properties of electrons, which are not available in Silicon Electronics.”
Nevertheless, the scientific team acknowledges the need for further research to determine whether graphene semiconductors can surpass existing superconductivity technologies in advanced quantum computers.
de Hera likens this achievement to the Wright brothers’ first 100-meter flight, emphasizing that the progress of this technology will depend on the extent of future studies.