Nano-electric could revolutionize chip fabrication

Block co-polymers are materials that are made of several different monomer components, and can fabricated to have unique properties as a result. Block co-polymers have been sought for years as a substrate on which to fabricate next generation chip technologies. Recently, Irish scientists have demonstrated a relatively simple process to fabricate block-polymer-based silicon nanowire networks. With current silicon fabrication technology approaching theoretical limits, the microchip manufacturing industry could likely soon turn to nanotechnology to satisfy the market's increasing demand for smaller sizes and higher speeds. "With the costs of silicon device manufacturing increasing dramatically, this research could be developed to allow cost-effective production of devices of the smallest possible size by cutting out the need for expensive manufacturing tools," said the Science Foundation of Ireland in a press release.