Sustainability Issue #4 August 2010

This is printed from sustainability.formas.se, last updated 8/16/2010 2:31:13 PM

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Nanotechnology may provide faster computers

Within ten years, the silicon transistors in our computers may be replaced by transistors of carbon nanotubes. This is the hope of researchers at Göteborg University who have developed a method for controlling the growth of nanotubes. The transistor is the most important component in all processors, and its speed is increasing all the time.

The most common semiconductor material in transistors is silicon since it is cheap and easy to work. However, when the size of transistors is reduced to increase speed, problems occur which give rise to increased power consumption and large variations in their properties.

A carbon nanotube can make transistors both smaller and faster than what is possible at present. Such a tube is a cylindrical hollow molecule with a diameter of ca one nanometre (1/50,000 of the thickness of a hair) that consists only of carbon.

The thesis Carbon Nanotube Transistors: Nanotube Growth, Contact Properties and Novel Devices was defended in May 2010.

Responsible for this page: Birgitta Bruzelius

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Sustainability August 2010

Focus presentation

Land – a resource that is a source of conflict How do differences in land use affect sustainable development both nationally and internationally? This was the question when Formas allocated funds for some strong ...

Focus articles

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The Interview

Measures to promote environmental goals and new jobs in the countryside Agriculture has both good and harmful effects on the environment. And several of the government's environmental quality objectives are part of the sphere of responsi...

More articles

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In brief

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Results from research

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