For decades, silicon has been the king of computing. But as we approach the physical limits of Moore's Law, a new contender has emerged. MIT researchers have just announced the first scalable mass-production method for graphene-based semiconductors.
Why Graphene?
Graphene is stronger than steel, lighter than paper, and conducts electricity with almost zero resistance. This means chips made from graphene could run 10 times faster than the best silicon chips today, while consuming half the power.
The "Bandgap" Problem Solved
Until now, graphene had a fatal flaw: it didn't have a "bandgap," meaning it couldn't be turned off effectively (like a switch). The team at MIT solved this by bonding graphene to silicon carbide, finally creating a functional transistor.
What's Next?
Commercial applications are likely 3-5 years away. However, this breakthrough clears the biggest hurdle. We may soon see graphene chips in supercomputers and AI data centers, drastically reducing their energy footprint.