Researchers in the US have developed nanowires made from niobium arsenide, a quantum material that can replace copper because it becomes a better electrical conductor as it gets thinner.
Electrical interconnects are tiny wires and connectors that link electronic systems and transistors, and allow them to communicate. They are critical to modern chip performance and are typically made of copper due to its high conductivity.
However, copper begins to lose its performance as chips shrink to the nanoscale. This increases electrical resistance and limits further miniaturization. To address the issue, researchers at New York’s Cornell University developed single-crystal nanowires from niobium arsenide, a topological quantum material.
Unlike copper, the quantum material becomes a better electrical conductor as its dimensions shrink. The researchers believe this could boost the performance and energy efficiency of future microchips.
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