Fast forward: MIT's graphene microhip could operate at much higher speeds than today's silicon chips.
Credit: Donna Coveney
Palacios said graphene will play an important role in the future. Already, it has been used to create prototype transistors, as well as ultracapacitors, storage devices for electrical energy (see, Super-thin material has massive energy storage potential).
"Researchers have been trying to find a use for this material since its discovery in 2004," Palacios said. "I believe this application will have tremendous implications in high-frequency communications and electronics."
Barry Cox, a member of the Nanomechanics Group at the University of Wollongong, in New South Wales, Australia, said improved frequency multipliers would have many practical benefits, but cautioned that certain problems still need to be addressed.
Still, he said, "the MIT project looks to be significant scientifically and with good prospects commercially as well."
More Moore's Law
John Stride, a chemist with the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, who studies graphene, said he was impressed by the work and its potential applications.
"There are small things to iron out, but they proved you can get higher frequencies with a simple graphene device," he said. "They need to perfect it so it can be suitable for devices, but they proved the principles."
Stride added that graphene could extend Moore's Law if the material is used to improve transistors. First mooted in 1965 by Intel's Gordon Moore, this predicts that the number of transistors able to be placed inexpensively on a microchip will double every two years.
The law still stands, but scientists debate how long it can last with current technology.
"New semiconductivity technology based on graphene may extend Moore's Law further in the future," Stride said.
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graphene chips
If graphene chips can be used to multiply frequencies, the cyborg link postulated by Stephen Hawking may be closer than even he believed. Let's say the chips and mini-micro transmitters can be used to amplify and carry brainwave frequencies. The next step would be computers that could be accessed mentally to operate equipment, perform medical operations, communicate with other humans and even, horror of horrors, guide and control intelligent weapons from remote positions.Let's hope we are looking at a future of new racial understanding, harmony and communication and not mental domination by government organisations.
Lionel Hurst, Brisbane
Graphene Chips
The new graphene chips along with carbon nanotubes is supposed to do a great job to speed up computer, mobile phones and other communication systems. By implementing the graphene chips, the MIIT researchers increased the system in the 500 to 1,000 GHz range. This is a revolutionary step to the future. I'm waiting eagerly for the graphene based systems. Thanks for your post.
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computer support