Once the hurdle that is the industrialisation of graphene is passed, the world will change.

Over the last few decades, graphene has been the subject of a lot of debate in and outside of the graphite industry.

Why?

2D materials like graphene have the potential to help provide long-term solutions for extending Moore’s Law.

This is the idea that the speed and capability of computers can be expected to double every two years, as a result of increases in the number of transistors a microchip can contain.

Today, the semi-conductor industry faces difficulties after years of innovation using silicone. While this innovation remained consistent, the industry was able to continue generating profits, and improving performance.

As stated at http://www.newelectronics.co.uk, researchers ‘are now struggling to generate more value out of silicone’. They have reached a dead-end with this material.

So, the question is where to go next, and graphene is perhaps the most obvious answer.

Graphene

Graphene’s incredible properties have pushed it to the very top of the list in the running for a silicone replacement.

Hypothetically, graphene is perfect. The ideal solution: a 2D material with completely predictable electrical characteristics.

This would offer up massive opportunities for the semiconductor industry.

As many of you will know, the only real issue with graphene is the inability to produce it on an industrial scale.

The initial discovery of of the substance caused a massive buzz, followed unfortunately by a lull caused by this predicament.

Although the excitement was high for graphene, the potential applications were so widespread that no-one knew where to look first… but now the semiconductor industry knows that silicone is out, and if it’s possible, graphene is in.

The industry has tried silicene, germanene and black phosphorous, but graphene has come out on top. However, the production issues have meant that graphene has only ever been produced in small quantities by the scientific community.

Graphene could only appear on a commercial scale in anywhere up to 25 years.

What do Semiconductor companies need from Graphene?

Adopting new approaches and materials could really disrupt the industry.

To introduce a research-phase material will take a very long time and a lot of funding. Nevertheless, the potential is so massive that it looks like the industry will prioritise this research.