Graphene nanoribbons developed for use in electronics

Nature : Ever since the discovery of graphene a decade ago, researchers have been working to find ways to use the material in electronics. Because graphene is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, it could transmit signals faster than current semiconductor chips without overheating. However, the current method of creating graphene wires involves forming sheets of graphene and cutting them into ribbons. That method leaves rough edges, which disrupt the flow of electrons along the material. Now a team of researchers led by Walt de Heer of Georgia Tech has found a way to grow the graphene on ridges of silicon carbide. The team applies heat to evaporate the silicon and is left with a smooth, 40-nm-wide nanoribbon of graphene down which electrons travel much like light travels down an optical fiber. The graphene nanoribbons conduct electrons even better than theory predicted, but whether their production can be scaled up remains to be seen.