Scientists Develop the World’s First Graphene Semiconductor: Know the Details Here

Get ready for a technological revolution, because the future of electronics just got a whole lot faster and brighter. The researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created the world’s first functional graphene semiconductor. 

This breakthrough has the potential to reshape the landscape of computing and electronics as we know it.

But why is this such a big deal? It all boils down to silicon, the workhorse material that currently powers virtually all our electronic devices. While silicon has served us well for decades, it's nearing its physical limits. Miniaturisation and performance improvements are hitting roadblocks, and silicon chips are facing challenges with heat dissipation and energy efficiency.

The landmark study published in Nature revealed that the creation of this graphene semiconductor was achieved through a groundbreaking collaboration between Chinese and American researchers.

Georgia Tech Research states: “Their discovery comes at a time when silicon, the material from which nearly all modern electronics are made, is reaching its limit in the face of increasingly faster computing and smaller electronic devices.”

“Walter de Heer, Regents’ Professor of physics at Georgia Tech, led a team of researchers based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Tianjin, China, to produce a graphene semiconductor that is compatible with conventional microelectronics processing methods — a necessity for any viable alternative to silicon,” it adds.

What are Semiconductors? 

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, “Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as integrated circuits (ICs) or microchips, are made from pure elements, typically silicon or germanium, or compounds such as gallium arsenide. In a process called doping, small amounts of impurities are added to these pure elements, causing large changes in the conductivity of the material.”

In its simplest form, semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity somewhere between conductors (like metals) and insulators (like glass). They play a crucial role in shaping our modern world and are the workhorse material for electronic devices like computers, smartphones, TVs, and much more.

What are Semiconductors Used For? 

Semiconductors, the wonder material of the modern world, are the backbone of countless technologies impacting our everyday lives. Their unique ability to control the flow of electricity makes them indispensable in a vast array of applications, including:

Consumer Electronics:

• Computers and laptops: Processors, memory chips, graphics cards, and other essential components are all built around semiconductors.
• Smartphones and tablets: Transistors, radio frequency chips, and power management circuits rely on semiconductors for smooth operation.
• Televisions and displays: LEDs, OLEDs, and other display technologies utilise semiconductors to produce vibrant images and videos.
• Home appliances: From smart refrigerators and washing machines to air conditioners and microwave ovens, semiconductors manage power, control functions, and even communicate with smart home systems.

Communication and Information Technology:

• Internet infrastructure: The routers, switches, and servers that power the internet rely on complex semiconductor circuits for data transmission and processing.
• Mobile phone networks: Cell towers and base stations use semiconductors to handle calls, transmit data, and manage network traffic.
• Satellites and GPS devices: Navigation systems and communication satellites utilise semiconductors for signal processing and accurate positioning.

Other Important Applications:

• Transportation: Electric vehicles, hybrid cars, and even aeroplanes use semiconductors in their control systems and power electronics.
• Healthcare: Medical imaging equipment, pacemakers, and other life-saving devices rely on semiconductors for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
• Renewable energy: Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources use semiconductors to efficiently convert sunlight and wind power into electricity.
• Scientific research: From particle accelerators to telescopes, semiconductors play a crucial role in powering scientific instruments and collecting data.

Why is this Research Important?

This recent breakthrough comes in very handy when silicon is reaching its physical limits. The team for the research of graphene semiconductors was led by Professor Walter de Heer at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the team found a way to induce a bandgap in graphene, essentially turning it into a semiconductor. 

They achieved this by growing high-quality epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide wafers using a special furnace. This technique not only creates a bandgap but also makes the graphene compatible with existing microelectronics processing methods, paving the way for seamless integration into future devices.

The Georgia Tech Research states: “De Heer achieved a breakthrough when he and his team figured out how to grow graphene on silicon carbide wafers using special furnaces. They produced epitaxial graphene, which is a single layer that grows on a crystal face of the silicon carbide. The team found that when it was made properly, the epitaxial graphene chemically bonded to the silicon carbide and started to show semiconducting properties.”

“Over the next decade, they persisted in perfecting the material at Georgia Tech and later in collaboration with colleagues at the Tianjin International Center for Nanoparticles and Nanosystems at Tianjin University in China. De Heer founded the center in 2014 with Lei Ma, the center’s director and a co-author of the paper,” it added.

This research could prove effective in the following ways: 

• Faster, sleeker electronics: Graphene semiconductors promise transistors that are ten times faster and a hundred times more energy-efficient than their silicon counterparts. This translates to blazing-fast computers, smartphones that last for days on a single charge, and a new era of high-performance electronics.
• Flexible and transparent devices: Graphene's thinness and flexibility open doors to exciting possibilities like foldable smartphones, wearable electronics, and even transparent displays. Imagine walls that double as touchscreens or clothing that monitors your health in real-time.
• Next-generation computing: The unique properties of graphene could usher in a new era of quantum computing and neuromorphic computing, revolutionizing fields like artificial intelligence and materials science.

The Georgia Tech Research mentions: “The team's measurements showed that their graphene semiconductor has 10 times greater mobility than silicon. In other words, the electrons move with very low resistance, which, in electronics, translates to faster computing.”