Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate- From MIT

8GHz (with the help of liquid nitrogen) not quick enough? Leave it to the folks at MIT to make sure your zaniest desires are well taken care of. As research forges ahead on graphene, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs (remember those?), gurus at the university have discovered a breakthrough that could eventually lead to microchips that make existing silicon-based CPUs weep. In fact, the research could lead to practical systems in the 500 to 1,000 gigahertz range. The magic all ties back to advancements on a graphene chip known as a frequency multiplier, and while the nitty-gritty of all this is far too complicated for the layperson to grasp, all you really need to know is this: finally, you can rest assured that you'll one day own a chip capable of handling Universe Simulation.

According to a report issued by the MIT news office last week, the research findings will be discussed in a paper in the May issue of Electron Device Letters. They also were described last week at the American Physical Society meeting by Tomas Palacios, assistant professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).

Graphene is a form of pure carbon that was identified in 2004. It's essentially a one-atom-thick honeycomb lattice of carbon. Since the discovery of graphene, researchers at various institutions have been exploring possible uses for the substance. Palacios believes it will play a key role in future electronics.

While frequency multiplication technology is used in current electronics, these systems generate noisy signals and require significant filtering and power, according to the MIT news service. The graphene chip uses only a single transistor and its output is clean, requiring no filtering.

Palacios, the professor of EECS, said the technology could be commercialized in a year or two. The research is being funded by the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology and by the Interconnect Focus Center program, and is being followed both in the federal government and by private-sector chip companies.

Looking ahead, MIT's researchers are trying to develop a way to grow graphene wafers suitable for use in electronic manufacturing.