First carbon nanotube computer

Developed at Stanford University in California, USA, “Cedric” may only have the capability of today's programmable calculators, but it is the first working example of a carbon nanotube computer. Unlike its silicon-based contemporaries, the new carbon-based computer is the first example of the future of computer technology. The properties of carbon nanotubes make transistors built with them faster and more energy-efficient than any silicon counterpart. By growing the molecule-sized tubes on a quartz substrate, scientists were able to ensure an alignment of 99.5% of all the tubes grown. Once aligned and “connected” as transistors, the resulting chip could be programmed to switch between a counting programme and a sorting programme – in much the same way as a multitasking processor core in current computers of today. The technology is likely to take more than a few years to mature owing to the potential high costs of production. However, the energy efficiency and potential for speed makes carbon nanotube computers attractive for the large, power-hungry servers that modern internet engines and digital commerce run on.