Progress and future of carbon-based electronics

In the last few decades, the semiconductor industry has been able to maintain steady improvements of device performance by the scaling of silicon-based devices. However, this approach will soon meet both scientific and technical limits, and there have been tremendous efforts to seek alternative device technologies. Some approaches involve moving away from traditional charge-based electronics, such as spin-based transport or nano-mechanical switches. Another approach maintains the operating principle of current technology with the emphasis on new materials that provide superior performance. In this respect, carbon-based nanomaterials including one-dimensional carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional graphene, are probably the most promising candidates [1].