Nanotechnology to be highlight at electronica 2006
Whether it is the life sciences, medicine, optics, ITC, the automotive sector, sensors or measuring and control technology – miniaturization is a huge trend in all sectors. With structures in the range of one millionth of a millimeter, nano semiconductor technology in particular is considered to be one of the key technologies for the 21st century. MicroNanoWorld at electronica will showcase important factors leading to the proliferation of nanotechnology into end products over the next several years: i.e., the suppliers, products, applications, trends and technologies.
Researchers have succeeded in building a simple electric circuit on a single cylindrical molecule of carbon (referred to as a nanotube) -- one important step towards the widespread use of nano chips. Nanotubes feature excellent electrical conductivity and transport the electric charge at the lowest possible levels of current consumption. Consequently, they offer a foundation for constructing smaller and faster semiconductor chips, and they could displace the transistor-based silicon semiconductors that are currently in use. This is because transistor-based silicon technology is reaching the limits of its miniaturization capabilities, particularly as a result of its high-energy requirements and the heat that is generated on the chip. This disadvantage cannot be fully eliminated through atomic changes in the silicon or through the aid of insulating layers.
Nevertheless, there is a great deal of development work to do before the new circuits on nanotubes can replace conventional transistor-based silicon chips. This is because nanotube circuits have reached a clock speed of only 52 megahertz under laboratory conditions. Clearly, these clock speeds need to be increased to become commercially viable. Designers, however, will be using this development period to shrink the other components on the chip down to nano size.
