In the quest for smaller, faster, and more efficient electronic devices, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, have discovered a groundbreaking use for coal in next-generation microelectronics. Through innovative processing techniques, coal can be transformed into high-purity materials that are just a few atoms thick, making them ideal for creating advanced electronics with superior performance.
Traditionally seen as a bulky and dirty resource, coal has often been associated with negative environmental impacts due to its use as a fossil fuel. However, this research effort highlights the untapped potential of coal as a valuable asset in the development of cutting-edge microelectronics. The process, developed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, involves converting coal char into nanoscale carbon disks known as carbon dots. These carbon dots can then be connected to form atomically thin membranes suitable for applications in two-dimensional transistors and memristors, essential components of advanced electronic devices.
Atomically thin insulators are crucial for constructing functional electronic devices such as transistors and memristors. While much research has focused on ultrathin semiconductors, the development of atomically thin insulators has been equally important. The joint collaboration demonstrated that carbon layers derived from coal char can serve as excellent insulators for the construction of two-dimensional devices. These carbon layers, with their disordered atomic structures, offer unique properties that effectively block electric currents.
The team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign led by Professor Qing Cao leveraged these coal-derived carbon layers to develop two examples of two-dimensional devices. By using carbon layers as gate dielectrics in two-dimensional transistors built on graphene or molybdenum disulfide, the researchers achieved over two times faster device operating speeds with lower energy consumption. The coal-derived carbon layers possess several advantageous characteristics: they lack dangling bonds or electrons not associated with a chemical bond, thereby eliminating electrical properties that can impede device performance.
Unlike other atomically thin materials, the coal-derived carbon layers are amorphous, meaning they do not have a regular crystalline structure. As a result, they do not possess boundaries between different crystalline regions that can lead to leakage and additional power consumption. This unique property of coal-derived carbon layers greatly reduces power loss during device operations, making them highly desirable for microelectronics applications.
In addition to transistors, the research team also explored the application of coal-derived carbon layers in memristors. Memristors are electronic components that can store and operate on data, greatly enhancing the implementation of AI technology. By adopting ultrathin coal-derived carbon layers as insulators, the researchers achieved fast formation of conductive filaments with low energy consumption, enabling high device operating speeds with low power. The presence of atomic-sized rings within these carbon layers further enhanced the reproducible operations of memristors, leading to improved data storage fidelity and reliability.
Overall, this groundbreaking research demonstrates how coal, typically seen as a low-tech resource, can directly contribute to the cutting-edge field of microelectronics. By harnessing the unique properties of coal-derived carbon layers, researchers have unlocked the potential for more advanced and energy-efficient electronic devices. This discovery not only offers a new economic role for coal in the United States but also showcases the importance of reevaluating abundant resources and finding innovative ways to maximize their value while minimizing their environmental impact. With further advancements in coal processing techniques, the future of microelectronics looks brighter than ever.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
