Smaller, Faster Carbon Nanotube Computers are on Their Way

An important breakthrough in developing nanotube-based computers has cleared a few roadblocks off its way. Researchers at IBM have figured out a way to selectively arrange transistors that were made using carbon molecules. According to Technology Review, “The achievement, described in the current issue of Nano Letters, could help make large-scale integrated circuits built out of carbon nanotubes possible, leading to ultra fast, low-power processors.”

Such a computer uses transistors that are a hundred times smaller than the transistors now found on computer chips. The finished circuit is just 18 micrometres (millionths of a metre) long. These carbon nanotube transistors are ultra small and show promising potential. In layman’s terms, these computers, powered by carbon molecules will be atleast 10 times faster and will need lesser power.

Since it’s getting harder and more expensive to continue shrinking silicon devices, using nanotubes or related materials would allow computer designers to cram billions of devices onto a chip. This would ultimately benefit both, the chip manufacturers and the end users.