Graphene Transistors 10x Faster Than Silicon

Asadullah Ahmad writes "IBM has created transistors made from carbon atoms, which operate at 100 gigahertz, while using a manufacturing process that is compatible with current semiconductor fabrication. With silicon close to its physical limits, graphene seems like a viable replacement until quantum computing gets to desktop. Quoting: 'Researchers have previously made graphene transistors using laborious mechanical methods, for example by flaking off sheets of graphene from graphite; the fastest transistors made this way have reached speeds of up to 26 gigahertz. Transistors made using similar methods have not equaled these speeds.'" The other day we discussed what sounds like similar research by a group of scientists at Tohoku University; that team did not produce transistors, however.

My prediction

[Thanshin]

Year 2173:

"Hidrogen-Unobtanium polycomposites seems like a viable replacement until quantum computing gets to desktop."

How long until you can buy it?

[Cytotoxic]

IBM research is typically the traditional 10 years away - but not this one... from TFA:

"This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff, this is real," he says. "This development is really going to turn into a communications device not too long from now."

So, I won't be playing Crysis on this transistor next month, but I might be using it to make a phone call "not too long from now".

Re:My prediction

[ground.zero.612]

Year 2173:

"Hidrogen-Unobtanium polycomposites seems like a viable replacement until quantum computing gets to desktop."

I came here from the year 2242 to tell you that you're wrong.

Sounds cheap

[marciot]

It was bad enough when computers were made out of mere sand, now they will be made out of coal?

Can't they make computers out of sapphires or something so I can feel sophisticated when I buy it?

Re:My prediction

[Anonymous Coward]

I came here from the year 4242 to tell you that He's right. dang.

Re:My prediction

[ianare]

... and all we need to do get some is to get some stupid natives out of their tree house.

Re:Military Application?

[derGoldstein]

You're assuming that the transistors themselves will have to go into a hostile environment. Some of them do, but when you're talking about HPC then they'll probably be in a remote location, safe and protected (like Cheyenne Mountain, maybe near the Stargate...).

Re:Sounds cheap

[derGoldstein]

Think of it this way: They'll be carbon-based, like us!

Re:My prediction

[electrosoccertux]

can you tell me when 6 digit /. UIDs will become popular?

Re:9x faster, not 10x faster

[Just Some Guy]

These transistors are only about 9x faster than silicon, not 10x faster as the Slashdot headline claims.

Oh, well, in that case don't even bother.