Making Microelectronics Out of Nanodiamond

Science_afficionado writes "Electrical engineers at Vanderbilt have created the basic components for computer chips out of thin films of nanodiamond. These combine the properties of vacuum tubes and solid state microelectronics and can operate in extreme environments where normal devices fail."

Re:Next step

[Farmer Tim]

I wonder how you distinguish femtodiamonds from femtographite, though.

A really tiny jeweller's loupe?

Re:Size matters

[ColdWetDog]

Each individual feature is just too big. You're looking at individual transistors 20x or more larger than what we have today on silicon. Faster and lower power, maybe, until you try and build a working CPU from them and discover you need a die 3cm x 3cm. Niche products only.

Here is the clincher:

The nanodiamond circuits are a hybrid of old fashioned vacuum tubes and modern solid-state microelectronics and combine some of the best qualities of both technologies

Just as soon as the audiophile industry hears about this they'll go batshit insane. Something that is 1) new 2) expensive 3) combines tubes and anything else will be simply irresistible to them. Bonus points for diamond covered wooden knobs.

Re:Logic Diamonds???

[phantomfive]

The funniest thing about the Time Cube guy is he's actually 100% correct, there are four days in each day. In fact, there are 24 (timezones) 'days' on the earth in each day. To be more precise, there are an infinite number of days in each rotation of the earth, depending on where you start.

I've always wanted someone to saw off the corners of one of those cubes, so it has eight sides, and send it to the guy. See how it blows his mind. Time Octagon.

Re:Next step

[mcgrew]

Shine on, you crazy benzine?

(Damn, if that ain't a nerd joke I don't know what is)