Researchers have just discovered a new semiconductor material called cubic boron arsenide which is said to be better than silicon because it is more heat resistant. Chemicals made from a combination of boron and arsenide are said to be better semiconductors.
The reason is, one of the two journals published on July 22 in the journal Science demonstrated the researchers could experimentally validate the high mobility of the carrier at room temperature, expanding its potential use in commercial goods.
The study, which included researchers from the University of Houston, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Texas at Austin, and Boston College said more research would be needed to determine whether cubic boron arsenide could be “made in a practical and economical form, much less replace it.” ubiquitous silicon,” as quoted Tech Radar.
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However, the researchers say this material will be very useful thanks to its unique characteristics that can make a significant difference.
“The sample is not uniform, but you can see the potential locally,” said Zhifeng Ren, principal investigator, Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH. University of Houston.
“If you have crystals that are free of defects, the mobility is potentially much higher than expected. We’re in ongoing research to find out.”
Cubic boron arsenide is also called much more accommodative as a positively charged electron pair. The lower heat sensitivity of cubic boron can make a big difference in its application as a product.
“Heat is now a major bottleneck for many electronics,” said MIT postdoc student Jungwoo Shin who co-authored the paper.
“Silicon carbide is replacing silicon for power electronics in major EV industries including Tesla, as it has three times higher thermal conductivity than silicon despite its lower electrical mobility,” he added.
Shin said boron, which has a higher thermal conductivity, could make a big breakthrough.
“Imagine what boron arsenide can achieve, with 10 times higher thermal conductivity and much higher mobility than silicon. This could be a major breakthrough,” he said.
Furthermore, it’s not just cubic boron arsenide that threatens to overtake silicon one day. Researchers from the University of Illinois built 4-bit and 8-bit processors with plastic that appear to have an 81 percent success rate, at least for the 4-bit model.
For information, silicon has never really monopolized the world of semiconductors. Gallium arsenide made from gallium and arsenic is also widely used in lasers as an alternative to silicon.
(lom/lth)
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