High Speed Bistable Graphene Transistor Being Developed

Graphene transistor

A graphene transistor exhibiting bistable characteristics in which charge-carrying electrons move at incredible speeds of up to trillions of switches per second has been developed.

Graphene has been touted as the wonder material with uses ranging from conductors, transistors, and even as a material for batteries.

Graphene is a better conductor for electricity than silicon and conducts heat better than copper. It is almost invisible since it is only one atom thick and is flexible, allowing it to be molded into different shapes. Graphene is also as strong as a diamond.

Just like graphene, diamonds are also made up of carbon atoms. Carbon atoms in a diamond are interconnected with four strong atomic bonds. With graphene, the carbon atoms are interconnected in three strong atomic bonds. But unlike diamonds, graphene is not rare. Graphene comes from graphite, the material used for pencil lead. Graphite is actually layers of graphene that are connected together with a weak atomic bond.

Graphene can be applied to a substrate like plastic foil, where it can be used in electronic devices that are flexible, energy efficient, and faster than conventional silicon based transistors. Graphene can transmit ten times more data than silicon.