World's First 2D, Atom-Thin Non-Silicon Computer Developed
In a world first, a research team used 2D materials - only an atom thick - to develop a computer. The team (led by researchers at Pennsylvania State University) says it's a major step toward thinner, faster and more energy-efficient electronics. From the University's announcement:They created a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) computer - technology at the heart of nearly every modern electronic device - without relying on silicon. Instead, they used two different 2D materials to develop both types of transistors needed to control the electric current flow in CMOS computers: molybdenum disulfide for n-type transistors and tungsten diselenide for p-type transistors... "[A]s silicon devices shrink, their performance begins to degrade," [said lead researcher/engineering professor Saptarshi Das]. "Two-dimensional materials, by contrast, maintain their exceptional electronic properties at atomic thickness, offering a promising path forward...." The team used metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) - a fabrication process that involves vaporizing ingredients, forcing a chemical reaction and depositing the products onto a substrate - to grow large sheets of molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide and fabricate over 1,000 of each type of transistor. By carefully tuning the device fabrication and post-processing steps, they were able to adjust the threshold voltages of both n- and p-type transistors, enabling the construction of fully functional CMOS logic circuits. "Our 2D CMOS computer operates at low-supply voltages with minimal power consumption and can perform simple logic operations at frequencies up to 25 kilohertz," said first author Subir Ghosh, a doctoral student pursuing a degree in engineering science and mechanics under Das's mentorship. Ghosh noted that the operating frequency is low compared to conventional silicon CMOS circuits, but their computer - known as a one instruction set computer - can still perform simple logic operations.
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