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Can Graphene be used in computers?

The relentless miniaturization of computer chips, following Moore’s Law, has encountered significant physical and thermal barriers as sizes shrink to the nanometer scale. Traditional silicon-based chips suffer from increased power leakage and heat issues as they become smaller, posing challenges to further advancements in chip technology. Researchers are thus exploring new materials, such as graphene, to overcome these limitations and enable the continued evolution of more powerful and efficient computer chips.

Graphene’s Advantages and Challenges

Graphene, with its superior thermal conductivity compared to silicon, presents a promising solution to the heat management problems of current chip technology. By integrating graphene, potentially in combination with materials like copper, chips could operate at higher frequencies and more efficiently dissipate heat. However, the transition to graphene faces hurdles, particularly in creating an adequate bandgap for logical operations, a fundamental characteristic of semiconductors. Despite these challenges, innovations such as negative resistance and the magic angle of bilayer graphene are paving the way for graphene’s integration into computer chip design.

While graphene presents a revolutionary potential for computer technology, enabling smaller, faster, and more efficient chips, significant research and development remain to fully harness its properties for mainstream computing. Nonetheless, advancements in graphene applications, including its promising role in quantum computing, suggest that within the next decade, graphene could significantly transform computer technology, marking a substantial shift from traditional silicon-based systems.

Graphene Chips ‘A Distant Future’

Chinese scientists are reportedly close to a breakthrough in developing graphene microchips, aiming to revolutionize the tech sector and counteract the effects of US sanctions. This development could significantly impact global technology, from supercomputers to smartphones, positioning China as a leader in the microchip industry if successful.

While China’s ambition to lead in graphene microchip technology shows promise, significant skepticism exists regarding the feasibility and timeline of such advancements. International competition and technological challenges, coupled with US sanctions, have intensified China’s focus on alternative materials like graphene to bypass limitations and enhance performance in computing.

Chinese Tech companies work together to mass-produce the world’s first Graphene microchips by 2025. Image Credit: Asia Financial  

China’s exploration into graphene microchips reflects a strategic attempt to reclaim technological sovereignty and leapfrog Western advancements amidst geopolitical tensions. However, the ambitious 2025 timeline and the existing scientific and practical challenges suggest that while graphene represents a hopeful frontier, it remains a distant future in the realm of global microchip technology.

Sources:

https://www.universitywafer.com/graphene-processors-quantum-computers.html

https://www.asiafinancial.com/china-banks-on-graphene-to-win-the-global-microchip-war

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