World's 1st graphene semiconductor could power future quantum computers

Scientists have developed the first working graphene-based semiconductor, offering prospects for faster PCs and future quantum computers. The new semiconducting material, epitaxial graphene, lets electrons move with less resistance than silicon, allowing transistors to work at terahertz frequencies, 10 times faster than today's silicon-based transistors. Graphene, a better conductor than silicon, has not previously been used in electronics due to lack of a "band gap". However, researchers created a functional graphene semiconductor with a band gap by fusing graphene onto silicon carbide with a special process and "doping" the system.

Opens on Live Science