Graphene Could Improve Your Wireless Device

The improvement of device speed receives approval from both manufacturers and consumers. IBM has conducted research for this purpose and its experiments with graphene have yielded measurable improvements.

Graphene was first discovered by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester. It was first produced in 2004. It is a form of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms. The atoms are arranged in a repeated hexagonal pattern. Its thickness measures 1 000 000 times less than paper, thereby classifying it as a two-dimensional material.

Graphene maintains strength despite its minimal thickness. Its tensile strength is measured at approximately 130 GPa. James Hone (Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University) stated that breaking graphene requires a force significantly beyond standard loads.

Graphene is flexible, conducts electricity efficiently, and exhibits measurable strength. It offers better optical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties compared with silicon. Consequently, graphene-based devices provide energy efficiency and cost reductions.

The expansion of data applications has increased the demand for mobile devices that can manage high data volumes. IBM reported that graphene is well-suited for wireless applications.

Graphene’s small dimensions present challenges in fabricating integrated circuits, as the material is prone to damage during production. IBM developed an analogue circuit in 2011. It included a broadband frequency mixer; however, the transistor performance was suboptimal due to an insufficiently refined manufacturing process.

Additional efforts were undertaken over the years to enhance the prototype, and these efforts proved effective. A manufacturing method was developed that preserved the transistor. This method enabled researchers to fabricate an integrated circuit from graphene that exhibits a 10 000-fold improvement in performance relative to previous attempts. They evaluated it by transmitting a text message reading “IBM”.

Other attempts to produce integrated circuits from graphene have yielded lower performance. This circuit achieved a 10 000-fold performance improvement compared with previous prototypes. The researchers stated that this development is a step toward genuine graphene technology.

This technological progress indicates that the development of less expensive, faster, and more energy-efficient wireless devices will occur soon.