By Stuart Fox Posted 12.17.2009 at 1:15 pm 6 Comments

A computer chip using nanotube circuitry can run much faster than a regular silicon chip, for a fraction of the cost, but no one has been able to effectively string together two nanotube transistors, let alone the thousands needed for a chip. Until now: researchers at Stanford University have built the first nanotube circuits, by stamping multiple layers of nanotubes on top of one another.

Carbon Nanotube Complex Circuit : This particular circuit is a memory element, but carbon nanotubes could potentially replace any computer part that uses an integrated circuit.  via Technology Review
The stamping method involves using metal electrodes to guide the nanotubes into place. In effect, rather than laying down circuitry one tube at a time, this new technique embeds a mess of nanotubes at once, and then etches away the unwanted tubes. This bulk method saves time, and allows for more complex circuitry.

So far, the Stanford scientists have produced three-dimensional circuits with five to ten nanotubes per micrometer. At that level of complexity, the researchers managed to create a calculator that stores numbers and performs simple operations. A record, to be sure, but no where near the 100-plus nanotubes per micrometer needed to compete with modern silicon chips.

The scientists suspect they can reach that density within 10 years, at which point the carbon nanotube chips will dissipate heat better, run faster, and cost less, than regular silicon chips.

[Technology Review]

6 Comments

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kalrin2001
12/17/09 at 2:28 pm

bah hurry the hell up already.

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OkMike
12/17/09 at 6:05 pm

How can you make the claim that it would cost a fraction of the price when they can't even make a proto type?

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MaxHubert
12/17/09 at 6:16 pm

Who is behind all this? I mean come on, 10 years!
If this thing is faster and chipper then silicon cheap lets do this in 1 year not 10!

Anyway, anyone know how mutch energy saving that would generate? Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that I wont need a huge fan on a nano-chip to cool it down and its probly going to be way less energy consumming that way.

Anyone can tell me how mutch energy would this same the world?

Technology > Copenhagen

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Laced
12/17/09 at 7:05 pm

10 YEARS!!! thats an outrage. The quantum computer is the gate way to the singularity and at this rate we'll have it before we can improve a normal computer to the point moore's law begins to break down.

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thor0997
12/17/09 at 7:57 pm

Well at least its someting guys. A recent pick of your articles. Printed Organs, First NanoCircut, Self Destroying Bacteria. Is it just me or is the singularity and immortality stating to WARM UP?

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eric11
03/25/10 at 5:03 pm

Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that I wont need a huge fan on a nano-chip to cool it down and its probly going to be way less energy consumming that way.
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