Graphene in transistors

Graphene is one of those materials that will change the field of electronics forever. When we talk about electronics, it all comes down to transistors. Miniaturization of transistors over the period of time has allowed us to improve the computing power. As a result, the computing devices are now faster, smaller and affordable.

However, semiconductor field is struggling to make the transistor even smaller without compromising the efficiency in terms of speed of operation and power consumption. Scientists are working to find a workaround in this situation, since we want better performance from our devices and at the same time we want them to consume low power.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed the graphene based transistors in which electrons travel in both ways, over the barrier and under it (by tunneling). It has enabled the transistors to have large differences between its on and off state, which is getting difficult to achieve as we are scaling down the traditional transistors. This allows these graphene-based transistors to switch at low voltages and at higher frequencies.

Read this article to know more details.

Graphene

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a two-dimensional, atomic scale, honeycomb lattice in which one atom forms each vertex. Following are some of its special properties:

1. It is 100 times stronger than strongest steel.
2. Graphene conducts heat and electricity efficiently.
3. It is the thinnest material possible.

Future applications

1. Sensors

Graphene is an ideal material for sensors. Every atom in graphene is exposed to its environment allowing  it to sense changes in surrounding. For chemical sensors, the goal is to be able to detect just one molecule of the potentially dangerous substance. Graphene now allows for the creation of micrometre size sensors capable of detecting individual events on a molecular level.

2. Electronics

Graphene can bring revolutionary changes in the field of electronics. It can give us faster transistors and bendable semiconductors. Graphene could make smartphones which can be rolled like a newspaper.

At just one atom thick and with the ability to conduct electricity at room temperature, graphene semiconductors could replace existing technology for computer chips.