Nanotube circuit could boost chip speeds

March 24, 2006 | Source: NewScientist.com news service

IBM researchers have created field effect transistors along a carbon nanotube that had been deposited onto a silicon wafer. They could lead to near-terahertz processing, up from today’s low-gigahertz range.

Unlike shrunken conventional silicon circuits, the resulting logic circuit yielded virtually no electron flow impedance, meaning current flowed faster.

The nanotube circuit properties will allow the manufacture of smaller transistors with electrons flowing faster through their wires, making for faster processing. The newly created circuit only operated