There are physical limitations that need to be considered with all the materials we use on an atomic level. Either we need to find an element with smaller atoms with similar properties to silicon. Or create some novel materials.
The only other element worth replacing silicon with is Carbon. Carbon however is a very complex element in its molecular possibilities. As Graphene, its use is not suitable for CPUs. This doesn’t rule carbon out completely. It may just be required to find the correct molecular structure that provides the necessary properties. My prediction is that it will be somewhere in between carbon nano-tubes and crystal diamond, however for this to be possible, atomic manipulation of carbon is needed in an atom by atom construction. Will this even work? Or will it even be possible? One day maybe but at a guess it will be complicated and I expect it will require direct real time manipulation of carbon bonds jumping between sp2 and sp3. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator while carbon nano tubes in multi-layers are potentially natural super conductors. Though the molecular geometry involved, if possible, blows my mind even trying to think of such thing.
Then again maybe I’ve watched far too many Sci-Fi movies.
The above diagram is a display of how carbon nano tubes can interact with diamond on a molecular level.
While researching into my idea, I came across this video.
Of course there is the possibility of Quantum computing or Biocomputing that will eventually mature along with nanotechnology. My guess would be that it is a matter of which is most feasible and cost effective at the time of application. Still I like my idea of having completely artificially constructed diamonds suspended by nano tubes and lasers with molecular bonds that swap between uber electrical resistor to super conductor... such a pretty thought.
Wonder if they could do them in pink?
