Carbon Chip Information

Traditional silicon chips with copper wires have been the norm on the market for years. Their technology, however, is reaching the physical limitations set by the materials composing them. This is where carbon chips come in.

Carbon Nanotubes

Instead of using traditional copper wiring, some chips use carbon nanotubes instead. These nanotubes are much smaller than copper wire, so more can fit on the face of a chip. This allows manufacturers to increase the number of circuits on a chip, which boosts the chip's run speed.

Carbon Chips

Carbon chips, such as those designed by Gartner Research, act as complete replacements to silicon chips. First-generation carbon chips use diamond films because diamond is a hardy form of carbon. Later-generation chips will use a form of carbon-3 called graphene.

Benefits

Carbon chips will be able to surpass silicon chips in thermal performance, superconductivity and frequency range. The use of diamonds allows for as much as 10 times the heat dissipation of silicon, and graphene will allow for 10 times greater electron mobility than silicon.

References

• The Inquirer: Carbon Chips are Almost Here
• EE Times: Carbon Chip Technology Goes Commercial
• The Future of Things: High-Speed Carbon Nanotube Based Chips