Nanotech breakthrough could enable brain-like, ultra-efficient electronics
Baku, March 25, AZERTAC
A team of Israeli and Japanese scientists has created a graphene switch requiring almost no power, a discovery that could revolutionize computing, enable ultra-low-energy devices, and bring futuristic technologies like neuromorphic, brain-like processors closer to reality, TPS-IL reported citing the Tel Aviv University.
The study, which included researchers from the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba, Japan, focused on graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms that is already known for being exceptionally strong, thin, and conductive. However, its properties can change dramatically depending on how multiple graphene layers are stacked. Until now, changing the stacking arrangement required a lot of energy and was too complex for practical use.
The new research overcomes that problem. The team — led by Dr. Nirmal Roy and Dr. Pengua Ying, under the supervision of Prof. Moshe Ben-Shalom of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy — created tiny “islands” of graphene, just tens of nanometers wide, where the layers remain in direct contact while the surrounding areas are separated by a nearly frictionless layer. This design allows one graphene layer to slide over another to change the stacking arrangement using almost no energy. In many cases, once the change starts, it continues on its own without any extra input.
“This is a breakthrough that has the potential to transform the way electronic components are designed at the nanometer scale,” Ben-Shalom said. “Instead of breaking and rebuilding chemical bonds, we simply slide atomic layers over one another — a natural process that is much faster and more efficient.”
The team also discovered that neighboring islands can be linked so that a change in one island triggers changes in others. This kind of mechanical “communication” between regions is similar to how neurons interact in the brain, which could make it possible to develop computers that mimic brain function, known as neuromorphic computing.
Neuromorphic computing is a new type of computer design that works more like the human brain than a traditional computer. Instead of processing tasks step by step, it uses networks of artificial “neurons” that can work in parallel, adapt to new information, and learn from experience. This makes it much more energy-efficient and faster for tasks like recognizing images, understanding speech, or controlling robots.
Roy explained, “The ability to design interactions between different regions within a material opens up new possibilities, not only for advanced electronics but also for brain-inspired computing systems. We are moving closer to turning physical phenomena that were once purely theoretical into working technology.”
The implications are significant. “This method may enable the creation of smart electronic systems on the nanometer scale — systems that consume less energy, generate less heat, and can perform complex operations in ways that until now seemed purely theoretical,” Ben-Shalom explained.
Beyond computing, the graphene switch could be used in miniature sensors and smart nanodevices. Tiny, low-power sensors could monitor environments, medical conditions, or wearable devices for long periods without draining energy. The sliding-layer mechanism produces minimal heat, making it ideal for high-speed electronics and compact systems where overheating is a concern. In the longer term, this approach could enable autonomous micro-robots, medical implants, and nanoscale smart devices performing complex tasks.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed Nature Nanotechnology.
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