The use of graphene and other 2D materials to create the world’s smallest microchips, in a method called “nano-origami”, can speed up computers.
Physicists at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom made the first discovery.
“Nano-origami” is a form that occurs by wrinkling or cracking into nanomaterials such as graphene, and the researchers found that when placed in this format, graphene acts as a small microchip. By crumpling the material, the researchers found a way to make a microchip 100 times smaller than current conventional ones.
Uses in computer science
The discovery could be huge for the future of computing.
As Professor Alan Dalton of the University of Sussex, who worked on the study, said.The use of these nanomaterials will make computer chips smaller and faster. It is absolutely critical that this happens as computer manufacturers are now at the limit of what they can do with traditional semiconductor technology. ”
“Ultimately, this will make our computers and phones thousands of times faster in the future.”
This type of technology, called “straintronics”, uses nanomaterials such as graphene instead of electronics and, in this particular case, allows more space within the devices for the use of more chips.
“Everything we want to do with computers (to speed them up) can be done by ruining graphene in this way,” Professor Dalton continued.
The good thing about the discovery of the computer is that you no longer need to add more and more foreign materials to a device for it to work faster. Instead, all they have to do is use this nano-origami method with materials like graphene, and they have a more environmentally friendly and sustainable technology that is also faster.
The team noted that the technology is more environmentally friendly as it does not require more materials, and its process consumes less energy as it can be done at room temperature instead of using high temperatures.
The study is published in the journal ACS Nano.