Graphene Future of Memory

The scientists and engineers have continually devised way to shrink the components on flash memory chips to cram more data into small devices.

But Within a couple of years, and almost certainly within a decade - flash memory will run into fundamental limits on how small its circuitry can be built. It is necessary to search alternative. So that has led a number of resaerch groups and companies to begin searching for alternatives.

Some of the research group concluded that Graphene should be the alternative.

Graphene :
A single layer of graphite, which is used in the common pencil, graphene is composed of carbon atoms and looks like tiny chicken wire. In this configuration, it is an exceptionally strong material that efficiently conduct electricity.

Graphene Memory Device:
They realized that bits of it could be designed to store a charge, the underlying basis of memory.
Also worked better than silicon-based flash memory in number of respects: It leaked less current, it generated very little heat and it operated in temperatures from minus 100 Fahrenheit to nearly 400 degrees. -- Jim Tour (Leads one of the research group in Huston)

But there is a long way to go, and it will take quit a bit of money to bring this technology along.

Silicon & Graphene :
Since silicon's first use in electronics half a century ago, billions of dollars have been spent to research and develop silicon-based materials for computer applications. So it will be difficult to develop a graphene memory device, because flash memory and so many other chips are based on silicon.

Some of the research groups just don't understand these other materials nearly as well as silicon.