News 

The transistor is made of graphene, a substance composed of molecules only one atom thick.

Silicon transistors cannot be created any smaller than 10nm in size because they become unstable, but the prototype created at the University of Manchester is only 1nm wide.

"These transistors will work and

ADVERTISEMENT

work at ambient, room temperature conditions - just what is required for modern electronics," says Dr Kostya Novoselov, one of the researchers on the project, speaking to the BBC.

However, Novoselov explains that a practical construction method needs to be discovered before the research can see commercial application.

Currently the process of manufacturing transistors includes a certain element of luck, with half of the attempted chips ending up faulty.

"I do believe we will find the technology to do this. And when we do silicon will be replaced by graphene," claims Novoselov.

Current processor manufacturing uses a 45nm process, although Intel already has a roadmap in place that features 10nm silicon chips.

This is expected to be the limit of silicon miniturisation, though, which could make graphene chip research vitally important to the IT industry.