Looking Beyond Silicon

摘要

Silicon-based electronics have been the mainstay of the industry for several decades, a veritable powerhouse of the economy, driving technological breakthroughs that affect virtually all aspects of everyday life. Devices have gotten smaller, faster, more efficient, more powerful, and cheaper. However, the size of transistors-the building blocks of electronics-is approaching the limits of what can be done on a large-scale industrial basis. Has the time come when a replacement for silicon can no longer be avoided? If we look beyond raw processing power, might there be a future for silicon if it is given new capabilities?