As energy efficiency becomes increasingly important, the semiconductor and energy industries are looking for ways to improve power dissipation in highly integrated circuits.
The increasing use of computers is growing the need to reduce power consumption without compromising data integrity.
In this light, Frost & Sullivan has taken interest in work performed by a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The team has developed a nanomechanical computer (NMC), which uses nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) elements. The NMC is based on nanomechanical transistors.
The developers aimed to construct mechanical elements that are more robust and can handle electromagnetic shocks better than current technology, that have much lower power dissipation and the ability to operate at a much higher temperature without expensive cooling systems.
The team developed NEMS single electron transistors that are effective for microprocessor applications that demand robustness, low power consumption, and high-temperature applications. The system is based on ultrahard materials such as diamond, which can be doped and then processed easily.
When an electric current is applied to these piezoelectric materials, the materials change shape. These shape-changing transistors could be integrated into current silicon chip manufacturing processes. Their operation calls for pushing and pulling on each other, thereby actuating connected elements to create switches, logic gates, and memory units.
Since these NEMS transistors are so small, more can be fitted into the same space compared to a silicon chip. Because there is a smaller separation of logic gates, an NMC using nano transistors likely would be faster than one based on conventional silicon chips. The NMC also could be used in more extreme environments than today's computers, such as very hot conditions, within high voltage electrical installations, or in the harsh environment of space.
For more information contact Patrick Cairns, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)21 680 3274.
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