But don't expect to find atom-scale nanowires in your next gadget purchase. The technology is still in its early phase, with wire formation requiring atom-scale lithography with a scanning tunneling microscope. "It's not an industry-compatible tool at the moment," Simmons says.

8 Comments

1. 1. Papaspud 06:14 PM 1/5/12

   The ingenuity of people can be amazing, 4 atoms across and 1 high, doesn't get much smaller,at least if moving electrons is your objective. I also noted that it is in " low tempretures", the first person to find a room temp. superconductor will be rich beyond their imagination.

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2. 2. Tony_Who 12:13 PM 1/6/12

   Current production capability is 32 nanometer wire widths.
   
   "Intel Factory Tour - 32 nm Manufacturing Technique"
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeGqCl3YAaQ
   
   Thanks,
   -Tony

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3. 3. Will_in_BC 12:57 PM 1/6/12

   Nice pun in the headline.
   
   The article says that the wires continue to conduct as their dimensions are shrunk "at least at low temperatures" but doesn't specify what is meant by this. It would be nice to know if these low temperatures are within the normal operating range of most devices as opposed to, say, something near absolute zero. Anyone know?

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4. 4. Russell Seitz 01:18 PM 1/6/12

   The cutest thing is that this far down on the nanoscale, the silicon substrate warps P-P bonds into the conductive, graphene-like , black phosphorus structure

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5. 5. tucanofulano 07:33 PM 1/6/12

   To really save copper vigorously advance Tesla's work on wireless electricity.

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6. 6. scilo 11:47 PM 1/6/12

   I wonder if Moore's law will run out before this tech is available?

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7. 7. Qedlin in reply to Will_in_BC 12:30 AM 1/7/12

   My immediate question as well. To be commercially viable they need to operate to at least 110 C and preferrably 160 C. No supercooling permitted.

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8. 8. swatiramesh in reply to Will_in_BC 11:08 PM 1/7/12

   hi, normally "at least at low temperatures" means atlest at 77K or 4K ( these are two accessible temperature for experimentalists using Liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Helium respectively.) Sure normal operating temperature for any device is 300K ( or 27C or room temerautre), but there are many issues to be solved before these small devices start to operate at room temperature.
   Well to confirm this, i need to read the actual journal article.

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