Whats Next for Processors After Silicon?
Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Whats Next for Processors After Silicon?
Over the last 40 years, chip makers have steadily increased the speed and muscle of computers, cell phones and communications networks by reducing the size and increasing the number of silicon transistors. Up until now, the number of transistors packed on a silicon computer chip have doubled every 18 to 24 months (Moore’s Law). Modern chips currently hold approximately 2 billion transistors however chip designers are quickly reaching the physical limits of this technology. Processors require more trace elements which are primarily supplied by China who holds the keys to distribution.
To quote Craig Sander, Corporate Vice President of Technology Development for Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a chipmaker in Sunnyvale, California, “The real magic of integrated circuit technology has been that we can increase the density while reducing the cost. The silicon chip has had an incredible influence on technology”.
Beyond Silicon – How Graphene Could Revolutionize Electronics
Researchers in the United Kingdom, Texas and Georgia have recently rediscovered Graphene, once thought to be a technologically unimportant material. It is a flat sheet of pure carbon rings one atom thick with possible applications in computer chip design, communication products and touch screens. Physicists at the University of Manchester in England uncovered some interesting properties of Graphene. Electrons travel through it 100 times easier than silicon. Being a two dimensional material, it may be possible to build smaller devices with greater control of electrical flow.
Walt de Heer, a physicist at Georgia Tech believes Graphene can operate at terahertz frequencies and compute trillions of operations per second while producing much less heat than current silicon chips. Graphene does have one large drawback. It currently can’t act like a switch which is crucial for performing as a true semiconductor.
Alternative Materials
Attempts are being made to mix other materials with silicon to achieve greater chip capacity Gallium arsenide, and carbon nanotubes are being studied. Billion dollar investments are required by chip makers to ensure the compatibility of various alternative materials when combined with silicon. It has been reported that previously incompatible materials are now compatible with nano materials.
Intel has successfully devised a method of growing Gallium arsenide in thin layers directly on top of silicon wafers. Gallium arsenide operates at much greater speeds than silicon and produces less heat.
The Nanoelectronics Research Initiative is actively researching new physical switching mechanisms that don’t require an electronic charge. This research and a 16 nm transistor design breakthrough by AMD may well allow Moore’s Law to continue well beyond 2020.
Tommy Barrowdale writes articles on appliance industry news including appliances, computing and gadgets.
Great Things Come in Small Packages: Nanotechnology and Energy
Posted by admin on Aug 20, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Great Things Come in Small Packages: Nanotechnology and Energy
If current news is any indication, Nanotechnology is poised to play a significant role in the development of clean, less expensive energy. The potential of nanotechnology for solving some of today’s greatest energy challenges is vast.
Nanotechnology refers broadly to a field of applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the control of matter on the molecular level in scales smaller than one micrometer, normally 1 to 100 nanometers, and the fabrication of devices within that size range. For scale, a single virus particle is about 100 nanometers in width.
Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale.”
At this size dimension, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties of individual atoms, molecules, or bulk matter. The properties displayed at the nanoscale create a host of potential innovative uses for nanomaterials. One of these uses includes the creation of exciting and revolutionary energy applications. These potential nanoscale energy applications apply to a host of different sources of energy, including hydrogen, geothermal, unconventional natural gas, fission, and solar energy.
While hydrogen is an energy storage medium, it is not a primary energy source. Therefore, full realization of hydrogen as an alternative energy source is frustrated by gaps in technology, which do not precipitate the efficient and cost-effective storage and transport of hydrogen. Nanoscience provides new approaches to basic questions about the interaction of hydrogen with materials to enable the efficient and cost-effective storage and transport of hydrogen.
Applying nanotechnology to geothermal energy increases the opportunities to develop geothermal resources by enhancing thermal conductivity or aiding in the development of noncorrosive materials that could be used for geothermal energy production.
The recovery of unconventional sources of natural gas is yet another potential application of nanotechnology. Unconventional sources of natural gas include tight sandstones, shale gas, and coal bed methane. Nanotechnology applications may prove useful in accessing or exploiting these unconventional natural gas sources. For instance, nanocatalysts and nanoscale membranes may prove useful in assisting in Gas to Liquids production. Furthermore, certain nanostructured materials may assist in compressed natural gas transport.
Nanotechnology may also prove useful in solving the waste problems of the nuclear energy industry. For instance, certain nano-engineered barriers may prove useful in preventing the migration of or containing nuclear waste products.
Nanotechnology applications may assist in making solar energy
Bharatbook.com : Performance and Future Outlook of Nanotechnology Industry Globally
Posted by admin on Aug 8, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Bharatbook.com : Performance and Future Outlook of Nanotechnology Industry Globally
Nanotechnology Market Forecast Report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Nanotechnology-Market-Forecast.html ) provides the information about the emerging trends of Nanotechnology Market.
Nanotechnology is going to pave the way for a revolution in materials, information and communication technology, medicine, genetics and so on as it starts moving from the laboratories to new markets. It helps to improve products and production processes with better characteristics or new functionalities. In coming years, products based on nanotechnology are expected to impact nearly all-industrial sectors and will enter the consumer markets in large quantities. Considering the future prospects of nanotechnology, countries across the world are investing heavily in this sector.
The global market for nanotechnologies is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 20% till 2013. “Nanotechnology Market Forecast to 2013” report also projects that market for nanotechnology incorporated in manufactured goods will worth US$ 1.6 Trillion, representing a CAGR of more than 49% in the forecast period (2009-2013). This growth will largely be driven by massive investment in nanotechnology R&D by both governments and corporates across the world.
According to our report findings, at the regional level, the Asia-Pacific region will experience the fastest growth in market for nanotechnology enabled goods, with CAGR pegged at around 52% in the forecast period, followed by Europe. The recent moves by the emerging markets such as India, China and Russia in the field of nanotechnology research and development will continue to the most prominent factors behind the growth in these countries.
Our updated and detailed research report evaluates an overview of emerging trends. The report has segmented the nanotechnology market by application and R&D investment. It discusses the nanotechnology market by key countries showing their prominence in the sector together with the emerging nations in the domain. Besides, the report covers various growth potential areas in the nanotechnology market at the global level.
Contact us at :
Bharat Book Bureau
Tel: 91 22 27578668
Fax: 91 22 27579131
Email: info@bharatbook.com
Website: www.bharatbook.com
Bharatbook, the leading information aggregator. We facilitate and support the business information needs. With over 90,000 reports, you can get instant access and insights on the studies in you for market research, corporate / strategic planning by providing the latest information in the form of reports, journals, magazines and databases on varied industries like automotive, oil and gas, shipping, textiles, pharmaceuticals, energy, banking, finance, insurance, risk management, country intelligence, consumer & durable goods, chemical and more your areas of interest. Contact us at +91 22 27578668 / 27579438 or email info@bharatbook.com or our website www.bharatbook.com
Introduction to Nanoelectronics: Science, Nanotechnology, Engineering, and Applications
Posted by admin on Jul 27, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Introduction to Nanoelectronics: Science, Nanotechnology, Engineering, and Applications
This textbook is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary account of the technology and science underpinning nanoelectronics, covering the underlying physics, nanostructures, nanomaterials, and nanodevices. It provides a unifying framework for the basic ideas needed to understand the developments in the field. After introducing the recent trends in semiconductor and device nanotechnologies, as well as novel device concepts, the methods of growth, fabrication and characterization of materials for nanoe
List Price: $ 81.00
Price: $ 46.68
Find More Nanoelectronics Products
Is it possible to do postgraduation in nanotechnology after an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering?
Posted by admin on Jul 15, 2010 in Recent Posts | 1 comment
Question by ♣♠The Boss♠♣: Is it possible to do postgraduation in nanotechnology after an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering?
I read in wikipedia that “At the smallest scales, mechanical engineering becomes nanotechnology…”. So, can I study Mechanical Engineering and then go in for nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is my main interest. If there are other undergraduate courses after which I can do postgraduation in nanotechnology, please let me know. Thanks a lot!
Best answer:
Answer by energeticthinker
I believe that you need to get a ‘graduate’ degree before you can do postgraduate work.
Check out the Materials Engineering programs at colleges/universities that you might be interested in attending graduate school at.
Check out the research activities of the Materials Engineering professors. (This should be listed on the department’s website). Find one (or more) professors in that department that seem to be working on nanotech. Contact them to find out more about your chances of doing such research as a grad (or postgrad) student/researcher.
Good luck.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!