Password Magazine - Issue 31
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February 2008
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Because of variations in expansion rates when heated, combining
different materials in one semiconductor device was almost a mission
impossible. When attempted, the incredible physical strain led to
reduced performance. But thinking outside the box, Erik Bakkers and
his team created the circuits out of nanowires, which decreased the
strain as the point of contact between the semiconductors was
minimized to mere tens of nanometers.
This technique of mixing semiconductors on the same chip paves the way for multipurpose chips that could revolutionize mobile and computer technology through less power usage yet faster processing speeds. Even better: it could easily translate into cheaper – and more technologically advanced – mobile phones and computers in the near future. + Back |
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