New transistors: An alternative to silicon and better than graphene (molybdenite)

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ^ | January 30, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

Caption: This is a digital model showing how molybdenite can be integrated into a transistor.

Credit: Credit: EPFL

Usage Restrictions: With Mention

[decimon]

More Moore ping.

[Free Vulcan]

bookmark

[BushCountry]

Moore’s Law, states that the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years.

Every-time we think we reached our limit, something new appears on the horizon.

[All Blue State]

There is a shortage of Molybdenum, as referenced in this article from 2009. My friend’s spouse works for a pharmaceutical company and struggles to find the molybdenum required for medications mixed that are used for heart procedures.
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20090805/World-shortage-of-molybdenum-may-hinder-nuclear-medicine-services.aspx

[hosepipe]

A whole mountain of molybdenite has been found in Alaska.. also gold, silver and copper..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble_Mine

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

the 1.8 volt band-gap the article cites would potentially be a fairly big deal. Silicon is .6 - .7 volts. It “could” change a lot of things with regards to circuitry art. I tend to doubt the 1/10,000 current consumption target stated, but it could be 1/100th.

[ClearCase_guy]

Alas, the habitat of the Alaskan red-bellied gopher is likely to be closed for all future mining activities. [/s]

[BushCountry]

That is because Molybdenum currently has a limited scope. Once the big Silicon Manufacturers start demanding an endless supply, someone will build the reactors to meet the demand. In fact, if this is truly going to the most effective means to produce high-powered, low wattage chips, investing in the company that will supply a niche material to meet the demand might be a wise investment.

[decimon]

That’s great but I do not dismiss the environmental concerns. If the cost of not leaving behind a wasteland is built into the cost of the minerals then so be it.

[BushCountry]

The bulk of the poor environmental track record of mining industry is from a time before current technologies and regulations. Enforce the strict rules, use the latest technology and billions can be dumped into our economy safely. Every environmental issue is hyperbole and based on what might happened. Same excuses for not drilling in the Gulf or harvesting the vast oil reserves we have in shale. With the middle east exploding we can not afford being resource dependent.

[hosepipe]

[ Alas, the habitat of the Alaskan red-bellied gopher is likely to be closed for all future mining activities. [/s] ]

The last Alaskan red bellied gopher died with Ted Stevens in an airplane accident recently..

[Sawdring]

I think Molybdenite explains time travel.

[sionnsar]

Small FET

[decimon]

The bulk of the poor environmental track record of mining industry is from a time before current technologies and regulations. Enforce the strict rules, use the latest technology and billions can be dumped into our economy safely. Every environmental issue is hyperbole and based on what might happened. Same excuses for not drilling in the Gulf or harvesting the vast oil reserves we have in shale. With the middle east exploding we can not afford being resource dependent.

As long as the taxpayer doesn't get stuck with the bill for cleanup. As long as Todd Palin doesn't have to take a factory job for there being no fish.

[BushCountry]

As long as the taxpayer doesn't get stuck with the bill for cleanup.

A statement like this drives me nuts. First, no taxpayer gets stuck with one individual project or cleanup. Taxpayers get stuck with one large massive bill (this year 4.6 Trillion dollars).

If this project brings in 10 billion in extra revenue and the government has to spend 200 million to clean up an area using the slush fund, then the government is still 9.8 billion to the good. However, people scream we are using tax payer's money to clean it up because the government already spent the 10 billion funding sex education on our kindergartners.

[Moltke]

that it can be used to make transistors that consume 100,000 times less energy in standby state

Ok, that's when it's not doing anything. Is there any benefit when it is actually doing its job?

[decimon]

If this project brings in 10 billion in extra revenue and the government has to spend 200 million to clean up an area using the slush fund, then the government is still 9.8 billion to the good. However, people scream we are using tax payer's money to clean it up because the government already spent the 10 billion funding sex education on our kindergartners.

This has nothing to do with sex education and my point has nothing to do with your socialistic reasoning. My capitalist, all-American point is that you pay for what you do.

[marsh2]

They proposed opening a mine at the Mysty Fjords area of Alaska, but it was in conflict with Wilderness values.

[decimon]

that it can be used to make transistors that consume 100,000 times less energy in standby state

Ok, that's when it's not doing anything. Is there any benefit when it is actually doing its job?

The article doesn't say but there may not be any benefit when in an active state. It may be that the standby state is the predominant state but I don't know. I suspect that the circuits in my PC are mostly in standby cuz I'm a boring guy.