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Lund Researchers Develop First Transistor Using Nanotechnology
Researchers from Lund University (Sweden) have applied a novel nanotechnology approach to develop a new type of transistor – one that may be 50 times more energy-efficient, and that could even support frequencies too high for today’s technologies
Lund University (Sweden) researchers develop first transistor with nanotechnology.
The researchers’ approach, which uses indium arsenide, “should be able to reduce energy consumption in mobile phones and computers, so they wouldn’t have to be recharged so often.” says Dr. Lars-Erik Wernersson, professor of solid state physics at Lund’s Faculty of Engineering. Indium arsenide, rather than silicon, which lets electrons move more easily.
For some time researchers were hampered by the fact that transistors couldn’t be reduced any further in size without overheating, due to the electrons releasing so much energy. But with nanoscale indium arsenide transistors, new transistor material is “self-organized according to a bottom-up principle” which produces more stability over the “carved out” silicon method, now conventional.
Ultimately researchers hope to develop transistors that can communicate in entirely new frequency areas. Today’s electric appliances use 3–10 gigahertz. Researchers hope the new discovery could support frequency areas as high as 60 GHz.
Dr. Wernersson will also receive 24.5 million Swedish krona (SEK) from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research to develop new wireless circuits using nanotechnology.
For some time researchers were hampered by the fact that transistors couldn’t be reduced any further in size without overheating, due to the electrons releasing so much energy. But with nanoscale indium arsenide transistors, new transistor material is “self-organized according to a bottom-up principle” which produces more stability over the “carved out” silicon method, now conventional.
Ultimately researchers hope to develop transistors that can communicate in entirely new frequency areas. Today’s electric appliances use 3–10 gigahertz. Researchers hope the new discovery could support frequency areas as high as 60 GHz.
Dr. Wernersson will also receive 24.5 million Swedish krona (SEK) from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research to develop new wireless circuits using nanotechnology.