New atom-thick material could replace silicon

A newly developed, nanoscopic material called graphene could well replace the role that silicon has in electronic circuit boards today. Pure graphene is made completely from carbon atoms, is transparent and is some 200 times the strength of steel.

MIT researchers working on this project say that the use of graphene could result in smaller and faster processor chips. In addition, the use of graphene for solar power applications and electrical connections that generate less heat is being investigated.

Before practical applications can be launched however, efficient methods of production and increased uniformity in graphene sheets must be developed. Only then will it be possible to tailor this new material for more specialized functions such as computer chips.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Informationweek

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