For the first time in history, researchers have built a computer without silicon — using atom-thin 2D materials to craft a new generation of electronics that could one day replace today’s chips.
Key Points at a Glance
- Engineers at Penn State created the first silicon-free computer using 2D materials just one atom thick.
- The system performs simple logic operations using transistors made from molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide.
- This 2D CMOS computer marks a major milestone toward thinner, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics.
Silicon has ruled electronics for more than 70 years — but a new computer built entirely from non-silicon, atom-thick materials is now challenging its dominance. In a groundbreaking first, engineers at Penn State have created a functioning CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) computer made from two different 2D materials: molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide.
The results, published in Nature, represent a seismic leap forward for electronics. Unlike silicon, which loses performance at ultra-small sizes, 2D materials preserve their remarkable properties at atomic thickness — enabling continued miniaturization without the performance trade-offs. That makes them prime candidates to power the future of computing, smartphones, and more.
“Silicon’s shrinking benefits are hitting a wall,” said Saptarshi Das, lead researcher and professor at Penn State. “2D materials maintain their electronic advantages even at extreme thinness. That’s what allows us to move beyond silicon.”
The team’s CMOS computer — which uses both n-type and p-type transistors — is a first of its kind. While past efforts demonstrated individual circuits or transistors made from 2D materials, no one had yet created a full, functioning computer. By using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to fabricate large sheets of each material and carefully tuning voltages, the researchers created over 2,000 transistors working in harmony.
The result? A one-instruction-set computer capable of basic logic operations. While its current frequency (25 kHz) is far slower than commercial silicon devices, it runs at low voltage and consumes little power — a promising sign for future energy-efficient hardware.
Graduate student Subir Ghosh, first author of the study, also created a computational model to benchmark the 2D computer against current silicon standards. “There’s still room for improvement,” Ghosh said, “but this shows it’s possible. We’ve set the baseline for 2D computing.”
The development arrives just 15 years after serious research into 2D materials began — a stark contrast to the 80-year path of silicon evolution. Das believes this accelerated timeline suggests a rapidly approaching new era of nanoelectronics, especially as conventional silicon struggles with energy demands and fabrication limits.
What’s next? More complex computers, higher speeds, and broader applications — from wearable electronics to quantum tech. But even in its infancy, this 2D computer represents a profound achievement: the start of a new atomic-scale computing paradigm.
Source: Penn State News
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