Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Researchers develop new germanium-tin transistor as alternative to silicon
Tech Explore ^ | 27 April 2023 | by Forschungszentrum Juelich

Posted on 04/27/2023 12:30:22 PM PDT by Red Badger

The germanium-tin processor was fabricated at the Helmholtz Nano Facility, the Helmholtz Association's central technology platform for the manufacturing of nanostructures and circuits. Credit: Forschungszentrum Juelich

Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich have fabricated a new type of transistor from a germanium–tin alloy that has several advantages over conventional switching elements. Charge carriers can move faster in the material than in silicon or germanium, which enables lower voltages in operation. The transistor thus appears to be a promising candidate for future low-power, high-performance chips, and possibly also for the development of future of quantum computers.

Over the past 70 years, the number of transistors on a chip has doubled approximately every two years—according to Moore's Law, which is still valid today. The circuits have become correspondingly smaller, but an end to this development appears to be in sight.

"We have now reached a stage where structures are only 2 to 3 nanometers in size. This is approximately equal to the diameter of 10 atoms, which takes us to the limits of what is feasible. It doesn't get much smaller than this," says Qing-Tai Zhao of the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-9) at Forschungszentrum Jülich.

For some time now, researchers have been looking for a substitute for silicon, the primary material used in the semiconductor industry. "The idea is to find a material that has more favorable electronic properties and can be used to achieve the same performance with larger structures," the professor explains.

The research is in part focused on germanium, which was already being used in the early days of the computer era. Electrons can move much faster in germanium than in silicon, at least in theory. However, Qing-Tai Zhao and his colleagues have now gone one step further. To optimize the electronic properties even further, they incorporated tin atoms into the germanium crystal lattice. The method was developed several years ago at the Peter Grünberg Institute (PGI-9) of Forschungszentrum Jülich.

"The germanium–tin system we have been testing makes it possible to overcome the physical limitations of silicon technology," says Qing-Tai Zhao. In experiments, the germanium–tin transistor exhibits an electron mobility that is 2.5 times higher than a comparable transistor made of pure germanium.

Another advantage of the new material alloy is that it is compatible with the existing CMOS process for chip fabrication. Germanium and tin come from the same main group in the periodic table as silicon. The germanium-tin transistors could therefore be integrated directly into conventional silicon chips with existing production lines.

High potential for the computers of the future Apart from classical digital computers, quantum computers could also benefit from the germanium–tin transistor. For some time, there have been efforts to integrate parts of the control electronics directly on the quantum chip, which is operated inside a quantum computer at temperatures close to absolute zero. Measurements suggest that a transistor made of germanium-tin will perform significantly better under these conditions than those made of silicon.

"The challenge is to find a semiconductor whose switching can still be very fast with low voltages at very low temperatures," explains Qing-Tai Zhao. For silicon, this switching curve flattens out below 50 Kelvin. Then, the transistors need a high voltage and thus a high power, which ultimately leads to failures of the sensitive quantum bits because of the heating. "Germanium–tin performs better at these temperatures in measurements down to 12 Kelvin, and there are hopes to use the material at even lower temperatures," says Qing-Tai Zhao.

In addition, the germanium–tin transistor is a further step towards optical on-chip data transmission. The transmission of information with light signals is already standard in many data networks because it is considerably faster and more energy-efficient than data transfer via electrical conductors. In the field of micro- and nanoelectronics, however, data is usually still sent electrically.

Colleagues from the Jülich working group of Dr. Dan Buca have already developed a germanium-tin laser in the past that opens up the possibility to transmit data optically directly on a silicon chip. The germanium-tin transistor, along these lasers, provides a promising solution for the monolithic integration of nanoelectronics and photonics on a single chip.

The paper is published in the journal Communications Engineering.

More information: Mingshan Liu et al, Vertical GeSn nanowire MOSFETs for CMOS beyond silicon, Communications Engineering (2023).

DOI: 10.1038/s44172-023-00059-2


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; History; Military/Veterans; Science
KEYWORDS: cmos; electronics; fet; ic; mosfet; quantum; tech; transistor
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: Red Badger

LOL!

I saw the headline, read geranium, and thought what the (bleeeeep)....


21 posted on 04/28/2023 5:42:53 AM PDT by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Meanwhile, from January...

CNNC achieves mass production of germanium isotopes

The ChiComs have been busy...

22 posted on 04/28/2023 5:46:40 AM PDT by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GingisK

I had one of those when I was 7 or 8 in 1963.....................


23 posted on 04/28/2023 6:12:59 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The mid to late 60s was the golden age of fuzz. Collectors of garage band records from that era love that nasty, snarling fuzz sound.

Examples: The Pandas-Walk (1966)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HXFgPjWkPE

The Story Tellers-Cry With Me (1967)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfDq7r5jM3Q


24 posted on 04/28/2023 6:18:23 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Soros on assisting the Nazis with the Holocaust: "That's when my character was made.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Guitar people are actively seeking out vintage germanium transistors for new fuzz-face builds, and are paying good money for them.


25 posted on 04/28/2023 6:27:14 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Soros on assisting the Nazis with the Holocaust: "That's when my character was made.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Fresh Wind

Really? Off to root out my old stock of them.


26 posted on 04/28/2023 6:28:34 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I made a comment earlier about transistors and fuzz pedals. Glad to see that there are some guitar players on Free Republic! Most musicians I know are libtards; fortunately a few of us are actually conservative.

I play gigs in Ann Arbor sometimes. Gotta keep my politics on the DL there— most people there are radical leftists.

BTW, if any of you want to hear some of what I do, search for Soundcloud Rick Jacobi.


27 posted on 04/28/2023 10:56:10 AM PDT by Psychedelic-Surrealist Artist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Psychedelic-Surrealist Artist

https://soundcloud.com/rick-jacobi


28 posted on 04/28/2023 10:58:51 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Psychedelic-Surrealist Artist

21st Century sounds like Pink Floyd meets Talking Heads!..................


29 posted on 04/28/2023 11:01:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I’ve listened to about half the tracks and they all sound great!

Definitely commercial value......................


30 posted on 04/28/2023 11:31:53 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson