Session C12
6166
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on
publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any
purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at
the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
INTEGRATED CARBON NANOTUBE COMPUTER CHIP TECHNOLOGY
ALLOWS FOR NEW SKYSCRAPER CHIP DESIGN
Tyler Murin, tdm41@pitt.edu, Bursic 2:00, Kevin McGoogan, kcm54@pitt.edu, Bursic 2:00
Revised Proposal — The past quarter century can be
characterized by rapid technological expansion, specifically in
the computer industry, which seemingly controls not only the
present, but the foreseeable future as well. Due to society’s
growing dependence on computing systems, innovative
advancements are needed to improve efficiency in order to
keep stride with the increased implementation of computers.
One possible breakthrough is apparent in the overall design of
a computer chip and consists of using carbon nanotubes along
with the existing silicon-based microprocessor to create a
never-before-seen “skyscraper” designed chip.
The process of embedding a silicon medium with carbon
nanotubes is the first step in constructing the chip and has two
main mechanisms, chemical vapor deposition and soft
lithography. The first of the two sub-processes, chemical vapor
deposition, deposits a thin layer of carbon nanotubes on a
silicon wafer by exposing a highly reactive carbon precursor
to the silicon surface, allowing the two to react [1]. Soft
lithography is then used to pattern and replicate the existing
nanotubes to the uncovered desired spots remaining on the
wafer [1]. After completing these steps, the computer chip is
fabricated by using the carbon nanotubes as transistors and
silicon as the base material.
Since carbon nanotube transistors generate much less heat
(than silicon transistors) in an electric circuit, these new
processors can be stacked on top of each other like floors of
an apartment building. The major advantage of this unique
design would be the increased computer speed, as data could
be accessed and stored at a substantially faster rate. The
apartment-style chip and its numerous data pathways would
“outperform conventional approaches by a factor of a
thousand” [2]. The interconnected vertically-oriented chips
would allow data to be transferred around through
metaphorical elevators and reach its destination in less time.
The previously mentioned major benefit, computer
performance, would enhance supercomputers with advanced
programming applications, specifically molecular modeling
and simulation. Advanced computers that use thousands of
microprocessors can now create a machine with equal
computing power, but with less cost and bulk. Data-intensive
programs used in research and development can now be run
more efficiently, which could lead to future scientific
breakthroughs.
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
2016/01/29
To further the discussion of the topic at hand, details of the
individual processes required for carbon nanotube and silicon
chip fabrication must be researched intently. In addition,
research must also be concentrated on the programming
behind computer modeling and simulation and the effect of a
more efficient processor on computers. Academic journals and
scholarly articles will be primarily used to get fact-based
information about the physical and chemical mechanisms
involved in both. Specific modeling programs and other
applications that utilize chemical deposition must be analyzed
and used as examples to further reinforce the importance of
the new chip breakthrough.
REFERENCES
[1] P. Asinari, M.I. Shahzad, M. Giorcelli, L. Ventola, D.
Perrone, N. Shahzad, E. Chiavazzo, M. Cocuzza, A.
Tagliaferro. (2016). “Convective Heat Transfer Enhancement
for Electronic Device Applications Using Patterned MWCNTs
Structures”. Heat Transfer Engineering. (Online Article).
DOI: 10.1080/01457632.2015.1080570
[2] D. Poeter. (2016). “Skyscraper Chips Promise Powerful
Computing Boost”. PC Magazine. (Online Article). ISSN:
2373-2830
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
P. Asinari , M.I. Shahzad, M. Giorcelli, L. Ventola, D. Perrone,
N. Shahzad, E. Chiavazzo, M. Cocuzza, A. Tagliaferro.
(2016). “Convective Heat Transfer Enhancement for
Electronic Device Applications Using Patterned MWCNTs
Structures”. Heat Transfer Engineering. (Online Article).
DOI: 10.1080/01457632.2015.1080570
This article, published in a well-respected academic journal
specializing in heat transfer and convection, describes unique
properties of CNTs and potential electronic advantages. In
addition, the text explains a specific patterning technique, soft
lithography, which is used to strategically place nanotubes on
surfaces of any size or shape. Information obtained in the
article will help clarify the role CNTs play in the physical and
chemical revolution of the computer chip.
Tyler Murin
Kevin McGoogan
U. Cigdem, S. B. Kert, Z. Gecu. (2014). “Effectiveness of an
Electronic Performance Support System on Computer Ethics
and Ethical Decision-Making Education”. Journal of
Educational Technology and Society. (Online Article). ISSN:
1436-4522.
Published by an established peer review journal
concentrating on advances in educational technology, this
online article explains the conceptual aspects behind computer
ethics. Methods to create and solve ethical scenarios are
discussed thoroughly throughout the text and involve wellknown ethical decision making models, along with flowcharts
and social experimentation. These techniques could be
potential solutions to ethical issues that result from increased
computing power caused by the skyscraper processor.
T. Simmonite. (2014). “IBM: Commercial Nanotube
Transistors Are Coming Soon.” MIT Technology Review.
(Online
Article).
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/528601/ibmcommercial-nanotube-transistors-are-coming-soon/
Published in MIT’s technology review magazine, a
renowned authority on innovation, the article discusses the
urgency and importance behind the development of the carbon
nanotube transistor. If CNT technology cannot be perfected
within the next five years, global growth and expansion will
slow, and current processor technology will not meet the
demands of society. The article will be used to illustrate the
importance of further research in the subject matter.
“The Story of the Intel 4004”. Intel. (Online Article).
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/history/museumstory-of-intel-4004.html
Obtained from the corporate website of Intel, an authority
on microprocessor production, this article details the creation
of the first functional computer chip. The basic chip
components consisted of a central processing unit (CPU), readonly memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and a
shift register chip, all of which operated through integrated
electronics. Original chip specifications will be used to
emphasize how much processors have evolved and improved
over time.
S. Coulombe, M.A. McArthur, N. Hordy, S. Omanovic.
(2015). “A binder-free multi-walled carbon nanotube electrode
containing oxygen functionalities for electrochemical
capacitors”. Electrochimica Acta. (Online Article). DOI:
10.1016/j.electacta.2014.09.019
The article was written and published by a reputable source,
the official journal of the International Society of
Electrochemistry, and discusses CNT growth techniques. The
mechanisms involved in thermal chemical vapor deposition
are analyzed, and benefits, such as increased CNT separation
distance and bonding sites, are identified. This research will be
vital in explaining how nanotube transistors will be grown on
the silicon medium used in the skyscraper designed chips.
B. Yirka. (2013). “Stanford researchers demonstrate carbon
nanotube based computer chip.” Phys.org. (Online Article).
http://phys.org/news/2013-02-stanford-carbon-nanotubebased-chip.html
This online article, gathered from a web-based news service
interested in science and technology, reinforces additional
details of the skyscraper design. The idea that components of
a processor can only be fabricated so small, along with the fact
Stanford researchers produced a completely functional chip
with CNTs, helped bring about the design. The article will be
used to provide explanation of the chip’s design and reason for
creation.
“IBM Research- Almaden Science Colloquium Series”.
International Business Machines (IBM). (Online Article).
http://researcher.watson.ibm.com/researcher/view_group.php
?id=4284
Posted on the corporate website of IBM, a worldwide leader
in computer hardware and software manufacturing, this article
details research conducted by its lead employees. The research
focuses on computational chemistry, in which reaction
mechanisms are simulated by supercomputers, and collected
data is used to improve efficiency of processes. This serves as
an ideal application of an enhanced computer chip, as data
collection and simulation times could be reduced significantly.
D. Poeter. (2016). “Skyscraper Chips Promise Powerful
Computing Boost”. PC Magazine. (Online Article). ISSN:
2373-2830
This professional article was published in an academic
journal by an authority on computer technology and
innovations. The main focus of discussion revolves around the
skyscraper chip layout and schematic, which uses embedded
CNT silicon chips and a vertically stacked orientation
consisting of processors and memory modules. Overall, the
article encapsulates the main topic of the paper and elaborates
on a useful skyscraper analogy to further explain the chip’s
function.
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