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Nanotechnology To Replace Conventional CMOS

Posted by timothy on from the until-there's-an-ipod-nano dept.

neutron_p writes "There is a lot of hype around nanotechnology these days, but some things are going to work in a near future anyway. IMEC announced a program aimed at seeking alternatives to the current CMOS manufacturing technologies using nanotechnologies. IMEC will investigate the use of semiconducting wires, carbon nanotubes and spintronics or electron spin." (IMEC describes itself as "Europe's leading independent research center" in the fields of microelectronics and nanotechnology.)

3 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Finally! by JorDan+Clock · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Finally an application for nanotechnology that's getting some attention that doesn't involve little machines crawling around my brain and floating through my blood stream.

  2. nano inflation by kipsate · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The term "nanotechnology" is becoming a bit inflated. Companies know that merely mentioning the word nanotechnology in a press-release ensures a lot of extra attention. It is kind of sad that good ol' Slashdot seems to fall for this cheap trick as well.

    Not too long ago, nanotechnology was about wonderful fantasies of small machines at nano-level assembling molecules or even medicines. Too bad that simple physics prevent this from becoming a reality (the resistance of air at nano-level is too large, for example). Now, nanotechnology is about punching very small holes in metal.

    Maybe it is about time that everyone realizes that nanotechnology is not as exiting as it used to be.

    --
    My karma ran over your dogma
  3. education by drakyri · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If this happens soon then it'll cause some trouble; colleges generally don't teach nanotech because it's still very much under development. I'm in a program right now that focuses on CMOS integrated circuit design ... am I going to be obsolete before I get out of grad school?

    I guess this happens whenever things shift to a new technology, but still, it's sort of depressing.