Could Graphene Become the Next Silicon?

[Hans de Vries]

"Graphene mixes it up with GaAs"

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220000856

Pure carbon atoms based on depositing graphene on gallium arsenide wafers could yield the next generation of high performance semiconductors, according to German researchers.

Graphene on Gallium Arsenide: Engineering the visibility. M. Friedemann, K. Pierz, R. Stosch, F. J. Ahlers. Applied Physics Letters, Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, DOI: 10.1063/1.3224910, http://link.aip.org/link/?APL/95/102103


Regards, Hans

 

[sanman]

Strained Graphene has a bandgap large enough for microelectronics applications:

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=5079

Could Strained Graphene be the new Strained Silicon?

 

[Hans de Vries]

"IBM claiming ultra-fast optical comms with carbon chips"

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=220600274

IBM said its current instrumentation limited its measurements to 40 GHz.
A commercial device made with an expensive material like palladium electrodes
would probably limit speeds to about 600 GHz.

Regards, Hans

 

[sanman]

Here's more on that same announcement:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/23666/?a=f

 

[sanman]

Wafer-scale Graphene-on-Silicon tech demonstrated:

http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=13188.php

 

[xepma]

This seems pretty darn interesting:

Observation of the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene
http://arxiv.org/abs/0910.2763

When electrons are confined in two dimensions and subjected to strong magnetic fields, the Coulomb interactions between them become dominant and can lead to novel states of matter such as fractional quantum Hall liquids. In these liquids electrons linked to magnetic flux quanta form complex composite quasipartices, which are manifested in the quantization of the Hall conductivity as rational fractions of the conductance quantum. The recent experimental discovery of an anomalous integer quantum Hall effect in graphene has opened up a new avenue in the study of correlated 2D electronic systems, in which the interacting electron wavefunctions are those of massless chiral fermions. However, due to the prevailing disorder, graphene has thus far exhibited only weak signatures of correlated electron phenomena, despite concerted experimental efforts and intense theoretical interest. Here, we report the observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in ultraclean suspended graphene, supporting the existence of strongly correlated electron states in the presence of a magnetic field. In addition, at low carrier density graphene becomes an insulator with an energy gap tunable by magnetic field. These newly discovered quantum states offer the opportunity to study a new state of matter of strongly correlated Dirac fermions in the presence of large magnetic fields.

Long story short, although the integer quantum Hall effect in graphene has been observed, this is the first observation of the fractional effect. Looks like they found states corresponding to a filling fraction v=0.30, v=0.46 and v=0.68. On theoretical grounds these would probably correspond to v=1/3, v=1/2 and v=2/3 respectively. The v=1/3 and v=2/3 are probably correct, the v=1/2 might be false. T

Some background info: the quantum Hall effect is a topological phase where the bulk of the system develops a mobility gap, thus turning it into an insulator. At the sime time the edges develop massless modes, thus allowing for conductance along the edge. The conductivity is quantized in units of v*e^2/h -- v being an integer or a fractional number. The integer effect is triggered by disorder in the system, the fractional effect requires a dominating Coulomb force.

 

[Hans de Vries]

IBM demos 100-GHz graphene transistor

A 100-GHz transistor has been demonstrated by IBM Research. Fabricated on new 2-inch graphene wafers and operating at room temperature, the RF graphene transistors are said to beat the speeds of all but the fastest GaAs transistors, paving the way to commercialization of high-speed, carbon-based electronics

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/sh...LHMGL5QE1GHPSKH4ATMY32JVN?articleID=222601227

Very interesting, starting with commercially available SiC wafers!Regards, Hans

 

[xepma]

Especially with this new development

Physicists Discover How to Grow Graphene
The discovery of a way to grow graphene should make possible the widespread manufacture of graphene-based electronics.

read it at: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24746/

Arxiv article: http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4955

It's basically a new to grow graphene on top of a silicon layer.

 

[GluonZ]

I haven't read much about graphene in a while and have just started skimming through some of the recent links in this thread, but has there been any significant developments in engineering a band gap in graphene? I know GNRs were showing promise at one point.

 

[Hans de Vries]

Carbon semiconductors clear CMOS hurdle
Georgia Tech devises one-step graphene doping

Carbon semiconductors fashioned from pure crystalline sheets of graphene outperform silicon but have lacked a foolproof method for creating the p- and n-type devices required for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors. Now the Georgia Institute of Technology claims to have a devised a one-step graphene doping process, paving the way for commercial fabrication.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222900570

The ability to dope with holes (p-type) or with electrons (n-type) from a single dopant material could enable carbon-based CMOS transistors to be fabricated more quickly than silicon transistors. The polymer material, hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ), can also be used to increase the conductivity of the graphene ribbons used for interconnections by exposing them to a plasma source.

Regards, Hans

 

[Frame Dragger]

Hans, you seem to be really well informed. Is there any research using graphene on Racetrack style memories?

 

[Gokul43201]

I haven't read much about graphene in a while and have just started skimming through some of the recent links in this thread, but has there been any significant developments in engineering a band gap in graphene? I know GNRs were showing promise at one point.

To my knowledge, GNRs are a good way to engineer the band gap. Also, Feng Wang's group in Berkeley demonstrated band gap tuning with a gate field last year[1].

1. Zhang et al, Nature 459, p820 (2009) - http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7248/abs/nature08105.html

 

[Hans de Vries]

http://www.telecomskorea.com/technology-4195.html Is there any research using graphene on Racetrack style memories?

I haven't seen anything yet. "Racetrack memories" are a sort of revival of the
once very promising "Bubble memories" for instance made by Intel with some
commercial succes.

Well..., even Graphene's magnetic properties can be extra-ordinary it seems...

http://www.telecomskorea.com/technology-4195.html

"In effect, the spin-valve developed by our team permits the graphene nanoribbons to exhibit colossal magnetoresistance properties," the scientist said.

......

The POSTECH professor said tests have shown that the efficiency level of the magnetoresistance of graphene nanoribbons reaches into the million-percent range, compared to few hundred percent for devices created in the past.

Regards, Hans

 

[Frame Dragger]

I haven't seen anything yet. "Racetrack memories" are a sort of revival of the
once very promising "Bubble memories" for instance made by Intel with some
commercial succes.

Well..., even Graphene's magnetic properties can be extra-ordinary it seems...

http://www.telecomskorea.com/technology-4195.html



Regards, Hans

I knew you'd come through! Thanks very much Hans, I'll read up on this.

 

[Hans de Vries]

CMOG(raphene) Devices Near Implementation

http://www.semiconductor.net/article/450922-CMOG_Devices_Near_Implementation.php

A simple one-step process that produces both n- and p-type doping of
large area graphene surfaces may facilitate its use for future electronic
devices. The technique can also increase conductivity in graphene nano-
ribbons used for interconnects.

Regards, Hans

 

[Frame Dragger]

CMOG(raphene) Devices Near Implementation

http://www.semiconductor.net/article/450922-CMOG_Devices_Near_Implementation.php




Regards, Hans

Holy explative deleted. You can't turn your back on computer science for a second. I can't believe they managed to alter the doping just through exposure time, which is an improvement on some vapour deposition methods for non Graphene materials.

It's not often you see a leap towards practicality going hand in hand with success.

 

[sanman]

More good news:

http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/nl904115h

 

[Frame Dragger]

More good news:

http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/nl904115h

Good time to be alive, when the topic of the thread evolves AHEAD of the discussion! That is very good news; mass production is a key hurdle for any new material.

 

[Hans de Vries]

Penn State Synthesizes Graphene Wafer

http://www.semiconductor.net/article/452752-Penn_State_Synthesizes_Graphene_Wafer-full.php

Researchers in the Electro-Optics Center (EOC) Materials Division at Pennsylvania
State University have produced 100 mm diameter graphene wafers, a development
considered to be a critical milestone in the development of graphene for high-
frequency electronic devices

http://www.semiconductor.net/photo/258/258009-A_100_mm_graphene_wafer_with_approximately_75_000_devices_and_test_structures_The_inset_shows_a_single_chip_Source_Penn_State_.jpg

Regards, Hans

 

[Frame Dragger]

Penn State Synthesizes Graphene Wafer

http://www.semiconductor.net/article/452752-Penn_State_Synthesizes_Graphene_Wafer-full.php


http://www.semiconductor.net/photo/258/258009-A_100_mm_graphene_wafer_with_approximately_75_000_devices_and_test_structures_The_inset_shows_a_single_chip_Source_Penn_State_.jpg

Regards, Hans

Explatives Deleted... wow. That's an amazing picture Hans, thanks for sharing.

It looks as though for connections at least, graphene has a mid-near term bright future. Maybe mid-long term as an actual replacement for Si... wow.

 

[sanman]

Yes, graphene will probably show up in interconnects before showing up on chips themselves.

The first graphene transistors will be for RF communication.

Then we'll gradually see it showing up in other micro-electronics.

 

[Hans de Vries]

IBM Research has demonstrated an optical link using a graphene photodetector

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...J0MHSBQE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN?articleID=224200681

To achieve the world's first optical data link using graphene, IBM fabricated an asymetrical metal-graphene-metal FET that used palladium and titanium as the source and drain electrodes, respectively, and graphene as the channel. Photons hitting the graphene create electron-hole pairs which would ordinarily recombine in the absence of a strong electric field, but are prevented from doing so by the interdigitated source and drain which intensifies the built-in potential profile of the different metals within the channel.

Regards, Hans

 

[sanman]

Could graphene achieve superconductivity?

http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.136803

Room temperature superconductivity? @ STP conditions?

Now that would truly be amazing!

 

[Frame Dragger]

Could graphene achieve superconductivity?

http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.136803

Room temperature superconductivity? @ STP conditions?

Now that would truly be amazing!

I don't believe it can, without materials or other science beyond current abilities. Then again, maybe they found some amazing material to dope it with (they mention that in the abstract) and they can make the leap to manfucaturing? The idea of doped carbon as a room temp superconductor that could be reasonably manufactured would be a true leap forward, and one I never expected to see in my lifetime.

That said, Hans' post about a Graphene photodetector almost had me weeping for joy. The more uses that this material can be purposed for, and the easier it is to manufacture, the sooner we'll have it in our computers.

I still think interconnects first as you said sanman... maybe optical links? It might not be a superconductor, but I'd take it! Besides, I'm tired of the occasional computer frying and then getting a whiff of Silane gas... which is truly wretched stuff.

 

[sanman]

Quasi freestanding two-dimensional conductor with massless charge carriers

Quasi freestanding two-dimensional conductor with massless charge carriers:

http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/38...imensional-conductor-with-massless-charg.html

translation: there's gold in that graphene!

intercalation of gold atoms between graphene and substrate increases distance between them, to promote electronic decoupling and thus approach the idealized qualities of individual freestanding graphene sheets

 

[sanman]

Graphene goes green:

http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2742

New, Simple Technique Enables Large-Scale Production of Graphene at Room Temperature

 

[Giulio]

Here's a theoretical work on band gap engineering by in plane deformation.

http://arxiv.org/find/all/1/all:+AND+giulio+cocco/0/1/0/all/0/1

 

[Hans de Vries]

New Graphene Fabrication Method Uses Silicon Carbide Template

The new technique has been used to fabricate an array of 10,000
top-gated graphene transistors

http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?nid=61435

Regards, Hans

 

[Hans de Vries]

IBM demos 155 GHz Graphene transistor with a 40 nm gate length

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/45649

Some links to previous work of the group:

Feb 5, 2010: 100 GHz with 240nm gate length.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/41643

Jan 5, 2009: 26 GHz with 150nm gate length.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/37204


Regards, Hans

 

[Astronuc]

I.B.M. Researchers Create High-Speed Graphene Circuits
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/technology/10chip.html

. . . In the Science paper, the I.B.M. researchers describe a demonstration in which they deposited several layers of graphene on a silicon wafer, then created circuits based on graphene transistors and components known as inductors. They demonstrated frequency mixing up to speeds of 10 gigahertz.

In the past I.B.M. has created stand-alone graphene transistors, but not complete electronic circuits.
. . . .

Same story at PhysicsWorld
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/46237