Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
The Evolution of Transistors: To Infinity and Beyond
A transistor is a device that, by altering a voltage, can adjust the flow of charge passing through it and can act as a switch in a circuit. Semiconductors are ideal for this purpose because when the voltage is below a certain level, the current stops completely; with conductors this would not be possible. Modern computing depends on hundreds of millions of transistors in a single device. According to Moore's law, every 18 months, the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles, along with that chip's processing abilities. However, transistors cannot keep getting smaller. Silicon transistors will eventually reach a size limit and the challenge is to find a new material that can have even faster processing speeds at virtually the same size. The solution is a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor. While silicon transistors experience quantum tunneling and a thermodynamic limit at sizes of 10-20 nm, carbon nanotubes have strong covalent bonds which prevent heat loss and channel the current faster with less energy consumption. The processing of carbon nanotubes results in different structures and properties. Based on the "folding" and orientation of the carbon nanotube, the transistor can function as a metal or a semiconductor, which allows for different properties. The carbon nanotube's structure also gives it a smaller band gap than silicon. Carbon nanotubes can be doped as well, through adding impurities, ions, or bonding other substances to their surfaces. Using carbon nanotubes in the place of silicon transistors uses less energy and provides faster processing speeds. Therefore, carbon nanotubes may be the ideal choice of material for the smaller and more efficient transistors of the future.
References
"Carbon Nanotubes." IBM. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. research.ibm.com/topics/popups/serious/nano/html/nanotubes.html
Glerup, M., Krstic, V., Ewels, C., Holzinger, M., and Van Lier, G. Doping of Carbon Nanotubes. American Scientific Publishers, 2010. Web. 4 May 2014.
Hsu, Jeremy. "Carbon Nanotube Computer Hints at Future Beyond Silicon Semiconductors." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Kiadehi, A and Jahanshahi, M. "Fabrication, Purification and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes: Arc-Discharge in Liquid Media (ADLM)." Syntheses and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes and Their Composites. InTech, DOI. 2013. 21 Apr. 2014.
Kumar, Suhas. "Fundamental Limits to Moore's Law." Fundamental Limits to Moore's Law. Stanford University, 9 June 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph250/kumar1/
McMahon, M. "IBM Scientists Develop Breakthrough Carbon Nanotube Transistor Technology." IBM News Room. N.p., 27 Apr. 2001. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/1289.wss
Meyyeppan, M. Carbon Nanotubes. Moffet Field: CRC LLC, 2004.CRCnetBASE. NASA Ames Research Center, 2004. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Videos and Images
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electron_shell_006_Carbon_-_no_label.svg
phys.org/news178552799.html
rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/December/18120901.asp
http://wigner.elte.hu/science/?q=node/25
en.wikipedia.org/?title=Wikipedia:Featured_picture_candidates/Carbon_nanotube
vimeo.com/8069853
legacy.jyi.org/news/nb.php?id=3754
intechopen.com/books/syntheses-and-applications-of-carbon-nanotubes-and-their-composites/fabrication-purification-and-characterization-of-carbon-nanotubes-arc-discharge-in-liquid-media-adlm
flickr.com/photos/paulslab/8315817096/in/photolist-dEQJGQ-79zUaD-8vo1CR-CY29h-8vpcs1-8ZeNdu-LY5Cj-6Rm5nz-6RrC6S-4L67N-4L67E-472Cbs-goVM4o-goVM1N-x6v4g-goVXuz-ddYwG6-aFhBgU-74bYog-74fSVq-74bXLr-5s812-8Bhcay-ddYzyW-ddYzHf
acceleratingevolution.info/CS/?p=160
acceleratingevolution.info/CS/?p=160http://9gag.com/gag/6602736/20-years-later-and-all-of-these-things-fit-in-your-pocket
tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/elmat_en/kap_5/illustr/i5_4_1.html
andersoninstitute.com/quantum-tunneling.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube
intechopen.com/books/syntheses-and-applications-of-carbon-nanotubes-and-their-composites/carbon-nanotubes-for-energy-applications
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433208006028
The Evolution of Transistors: To Infinity and Beyond
A transistor is a device that, by altering a voltage, can adjust the flow of charge passing through it and can act as a switch in a circuit. Semiconductors are ideal for this purpose because when the voltage is below a certain level, the current stops completely; with conductors this would not be possible. Modern computing depends on hundreds of millions of transistors in a single device. According to Moore's law, every 18 months, the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles, along with that chip's processing abilities. However, transistors cannot keep getting smaller. Silicon transistors will eventually reach a size limit and the challenge is to find a new material that can have even faster processing speeds at virtually the same size. The solution is a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor. While silicon transistors experience quantum tunneling and a thermodynamic limit at sizes of 10-20 nm, carbon nanotubes have strong covalent bonds which prevent heat loss and channel the current faster with less energy consumption. The processing of carbon nanotubes results in different structures and properties. Based on the "folding" and orientation of the carbon nanotube, the transistor can function as a metal or a semiconductor, which allows for different properties. The carbon nanotube's structure also gives it a smaller band gap than silicon. Carbon nanotubes can be doped as well, through adding impurities, ions, or bonding other substances to their surfaces. Using carbon nanotubes in the place of silicon transistors uses less energy and provides faster processing speeds. Therefore, carbon nanotubes may be the ideal choice of material for the smaller and more efficient transistors of the future.
References
"Carbon Nanotubes." IBM. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. research.ibm.com/topics/popups/serious/nano/html/nanotubes.html
Glerup, M., Krstic, V., Ewels, C., Holzinger, M., and Van Lier, G. Doping of Carbon Nanotubes. American Scientific Publishers, 2010. Web. 4 May 2014.
Hsu, Jeremy. "Carbon Nanotube Computer Hints at Future Beyond Silicon Semiconductors." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Kiadehi, A and Jahanshahi, M. "Fabrication, Purification and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes: Arc-Discharge in Liquid Media (ADLM)." Syntheses and Applications of Carbon Nanotubes and Their Composites. InTech, DOI. 2013. 21 Apr. 2014.
Kumar, Suhas. "Fundamental Limits to Moore's Law." Fundamental Limits to Moore's Law. Stanford University, 9 June 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph250/kumar1/
McMahon, M. "IBM Scientists Develop Breakthrough Carbon Nanotube Transistor Technology." IBM News Room. N.p., 27 Apr. 2001. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/1289.wss
Meyyeppan, M. Carbon Nanotubes. Moffet Field: CRC LLC, 2004.CRCnetBASE. NASA Ames Research Center, 2004. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Videos and Images
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electron_shell_006_Carbon_-_no_label.svg
phys.org/news178552799.html
rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/December/18120901.asp
http://wigner.elte.hu/science/?q=node/25
en.wikipedia.org/?title=Wikipedia:Featured_picture_candidates/Carbon_nanotube
vimeo.com/8069853
legacy.jyi.org/news/nb.php?id=3754
intechopen.com/books/syntheses-and-applications-of-carbon-nanotubes-and-their-composites/fabrication-purification-and-characterization-of-carbon-nanotubes-arc-discharge-in-liquid-media-adlm
flickr.com/photos/paulslab/8315817096/in/photolist-dEQJGQ-79zUaD-8vo1CR-CY29h-8vpcs1-8ZeNdu-LY5Cj-6Rm5nz-6RrC6S-4L67N-4L67E-472Cbs-goVM4o-goVM1N-x6v4g-goVXuz-ddYwG6-aFhBgU-74bYog-74fSVq-74bXLr-5s812-8Bhcay-ddYzyW-ddYzHf
acceleratingevolution.info/CS/?p=160
acceleratingevolution.info/CS/?p=160http://9gag.com/gag/6602736/20-years-later-and-all-of-these-things-fit-in-your-pocket
tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/elmat_en/kap_5/illustr/i5_4_1.html
andersoninstitute.com/quantum-tunneling.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube
intechopen.com/books/syntheses-and-applications-of-carbon-nanotubes-and-their-composites/carbon-nanotubes-for-energy-applications
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433208006028
