Self-assembling nanowires

Researchers at the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) have demonstrated a new technique for producing very small conductive nanowires on silicon chips.

The scientists have found a way to use molecules that self-assemble to form lines, which can then be used as wires. The work coincides with the trend for technology platforms to become increasingly smaller.

‘Computer chips are constantly getting smaller and smaller. There’s an unrelenting decrease in size. And the question arises, how do you wire these things in?’ said Dr Jillian Buriak, University of Alberta professor and senior research officer at the National Institute for Nanotechnology. ‘If you’re going to make something on the order of 22 or even 18 nanometres, then you’d better have a plug that’s about that size, too.’

Using the new technique, nanowires that are 5,000 times longer than they are wide can be produced, and with these wires smaller transistors and other electronic components can be developed.