Intel researching "carbon nanotubes" for chip design
13th Nov 2006, 14:08 GMT
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops While Moore's Law has held up pretty well over the last 40 years, it may not be able to stay true forever. It turns out that as the components inside semiconductors get smaller and smaller, electrical resistance goes up, thereby reducing performance; experts say that eventually there will be a breaking point for "copper interconnects," reaching the point where Moore's Law falls apart. Scientists have been well aware of this roadblock, and have invested heavily in everything from quantum computing to optical processors. Intel is also working on a solution for this electrical engineering problem by attempting to determine whether these semiconductor interconnects can be replaced by carbon nanotubes. The ubiquitously researched microscopic tubes can conduct electricity far better than metals, due to their "ballistic conductivity," a property where no electrons are dispersed or blocked. But, the problem with carbon nanotubes, as CNET reports, is that they're really tough to mass produce; once created, some act as great semiconductors, while others don't. So now, Intel has to figure out how to get carbon nanotubes to act more uniformly, or to separate the bad ones from the good. Thankfully, consumers won't have to worry about this problem for about another decade, which is why Intel has brainiacs working on a solution as we speak. [Via Slashdot] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Intel researching "carbon nanotubes" for chip design related news:
- Intel researches nanotubes for chip designs — News at ZDNet UK
- Intel Developing Nanotube Chip Technology — The Mac Observer
- Intel wants to replace copper wires with carbon nanotubes — DV Hardware
- Bridging Neurons And Electronics With Carbon Nanotubes — ScienceDaily Headlines: Matter & Energy
- Electron beams shrink carbon nanotubes to order — New Scientist - Latest Headlines
- Bridging neurons, electronics with carbon nanotubes — Science Blog - Think. It's not illegal yet.
- Customizable nanotubes developed — Mobile Magazine
- Images: 35 years of Intel chip design — CNET News.com
- Revisiting the 4004: Intel's accidental revolution — CNET News.com
- Intel Rolls Out Xeon Chip Line — WSJ.com: What's News Technology
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