Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) at the University of Tokyo in Japan have built tiny transistors that do not use silicon. Instead, the team doped gallium into indium oxide and then crystallized it to make a material that supports the movement of electrons.
Transistors are everywhere. From the smartphone to smart homes, cars to airplanes, transistors are an integral part of modern-day electronics. Made out of silicon, transistors have helped hasten the development of newer technologies but are also now lagging behind.
Computers that once filled the room now fit in the palm of the hand, thanks to silicon-based transistors. However, as we seek to minimize the size of electronics further, we have started to see the limitations of silicon as well. Squeezing out more from silicon-based transistors in smaller configurations is getting harder by the day, and this is where researchers are looking for new alternatives.
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