| Nanoelectronic is concerned with understanding | | | | the future, pushing technology far beyond the |
| and exploiting the properties of devices, which | | | | limits of silicon. |
| have dimensions at the nanometre scale. | | | | Satish P. Nair, Technical Insight Analyst says "The |
| Microelectronics will gradually evolve into | | | | future of electronics is nano-sized, exciting |
| nano-electronic. In fact, this has already happened | | | | nanofabrication techniques have unfolded different |
| as can be seen from the smallest feature size of | | | | methods to engineer nanowires, quantum wells, |
| present integrated circuits, which is below of one | | | | and nanotubes which function as the building |
| micrometer. It is currently believed that optical | | | | blocks of future nanoelectronic devices." The |
| lithography can be used for ground rules down to | | | | progress in carbon nanotube and semiconductor |
| 150 nm and might even be used for the 100 nm | | | | nanowire has provided researchers with a model |
| generation and below. This would imply an | | | | against which to gauge future nanoscale devices |
| increasing process and mask complexity, and | | | | and systems. |
| consequently, increasing the cost. | | | | Adds Nair: "Molecular electronic can create devices |
| Molecular-scale electronic has been widely touted | | | | that could be a thousand times smaller than |
| as "the next step" in electronic miniaturization, | | | | current semiconductor-based devices. Molecular |
| with theory and research suggesting that single | | | | memories will also have a storage density million |
| molecules may have the capability to take the | | | | times that of today's best semiconductor chips." |
| place of today's much larger electronic | | | | Dramatic breakthroughs in molecular electronic by |
| components. | | | | industry giant Hewlett Packard (HP) and other |
| Therefore, what are the advantages of scaling | | | | major developers validate these predictions. HP |
| down of devices? | | | | has created a new kind of minute circuit for |
| Speed of operation - Reduction of the parasitic | | | | computer chips using nanotechnology. The |
| capacitances associated with non-conductive paths | | | | company's research laboratory also announced |
| in an electronic device leads to a higher cut-off | | | | the development of the highest density |
| frequency. This enables a device to operate at | | | | electronically addressable memory to date. |
| much higher speeds. Density - An obvious | | | | Nair notes: "Research indicates that the |
| advantage. This reduces size and cuts materials | | | | time-to-market for commercial applications of |
| cost. Power dissipation - This is reduced due to | | | | Nanoelectronic-based devices is shrinking with the |
| lesser resistance in interconnects and currents | | | | years. It is predicted that within the next five |
| flowing in smaller circuits. In lasers, the use of | | | | years, we will probably witness the first complete |
| lower dimensional systems reduces the threshold | | | | based-based device in the market." |
| current due to improved density of states | | | | Nanoelectronic areas being studied include the |
| distribution. New applications - This enables certain | | | | fabrication of atomic wires; Single Electron |
| uses, currently speculative, but very much in the | | | | Tunnelling (SET) devices and atto-farad |
| offing. | | | | structures; and the study of spin-polarised |
| Integrated circuits are also known as | | | | electronics and magnetic nano-structures, all of |
| microelectronic. The term micro derives from | | | | which are likely to play an important part in future |
| micro-fabrication technology, which embraces all | | | | electronic devices. A study of the thermal motion |
| highly sophisticated techniques like optical- and | | | | of an isolated surface-trapped atom will also be |
| electron-beam lithography, metallization, | | | | carried out and its potential as a nano-scale noise |
| implantation and etching that allow generating | | | | thermometer investigated. |
| structures on the scale of one micrometer. | | | | By growing nanowires that are 20 to 200 |
| In the early 1970's, two scientists, Ari Aviram and | | | | nanometers in diameter (one nanometer is one |
| Mark Ratner, began to envision electronic circuit | | | | one-thousandth of a micrometer and human hair |
| elements made from single molecules and | | | | is typically 50 to 100 micrometers thick), |
| described in detail how they might function. This | | | | researchers say they are closer to creating the |
| was the origin of the field of molecular electronics, | | | | circuitry required for nanoelectronic devices. |
| now sometimes called molecular-scale electronics. | | | | Research and development in nanoelectronic has |
| The emergence of molecular electronics and | | | | been fuelled by huge investments by various |
| spintronics is providing a challenge to traditional | | | | national governments, as it is happing with |
| electronic manufacturing techniques. Significant | | | | nanotechnology in general. Countries in Europe and |
| reduction in size and the sheer enormity of | | | | Asia, notably Japan and China are expecting to |
| numbers in manufacturing are the benefits of | | | | spend - and reportedly spending at the present - |
| molecular electronics. Scientists predict that | | | | millions of dollars in the field of nanoelectronic. |
| computers will be assembled using molecules in | | | | Altawell. |