Revolutionizing technology: World's first graphene semiconductor developed, promising faster, greener electronics

Semiconductors are specific materials that conduct electricity only under certain circumstances and are an essential component of electronic devices. As the demand for faster computers and increasingly compact electronic devices grows, silicon, the material from which most modern electronics are made, is beginning to show its limitations.

A team of scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Tianjin University in China, under the leadership of Prof. Walter de Heer from Georgia Tech, scored a significant achievement by creating the world's first functional graphene semiconductor. The primary obstacle to realizing this goal was the absence of an energy gap - a state lacking electrons with energy within a specific range in the system. This energy gap allows the semiconductor to alter its electrical properties under certain conditions.

This graphene layer was created on a specially prepared silicon carbide plate, producing epitaxial graphene. The graphene chemically bonded with this substrate and began to display semiconductor characteristics.

Research has demonstrated that electrons in graphene are ten times more mobile than silicon electrons. This increased mobility can enable faster computer calculations. Furthermore, this system generates less heat.

The authors of the study firmly believe that their discovery will pave the way for the development of quicker, more energy-efficient electronics in an innovative manner. Graphene semiconductors might be helpful across various fields, including quantum computing.