Nanotechnology
Q: What is the field of nanoelectronics?
A: Nanoelectronics, a subset of nanotechnology, involves the creation and technology of electronic devices with dimensions up to 100 nanometers.
Nanoelectronics often refers to the use of nanotechnology on electronic components, especially transistors so small that they involve inter-atomic interactions and quantum mechanical properties at a subatomic scale.
Among other things, nanoelectronics holds the promise of making processors more powerful than what is currently possible with conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques. A number of approaches are currently being researched, including new forms of nanolithography, as well as the use of nanomaterials such as nanowires or molecules in the place of current semiconductor components.
“Moore’s Law,” which states that processors double in computing power every two years, is now driven by the relentless miniaturization of computer components deep into the nanoscale. Eventually, however, this process will reach its limits – many say by the year 2025.
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