IIT Delhi researchers develop compact, energy efficient computing device using 2D materials tech

Time of India

3 hours ago

New Delhi: A team of researchers at
IIT Delhi
developed a compact, energy-efficient computing device using 2D materials technology.
2D materials technology involves the use of materials that are just one or a few atoms thick, offering unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties.
Unlike conventional computers that rely on traditional semiconductor materials and bulky designs, often resulting in high power consumption, this innovation promises to make future computers significantly smaller, faster, and more power-efficient.
The team, which includes Dr Manoj Kumar and Kritika Bhattacharya and is led by Dr Samaresh Das, head of centre for applied research in electronics at IIT Delhi, named the device MOD-PC (Multifunctional Optoelectronic Device for Processing Circuits).
Optoelectronic signal processing means handling signals that involve both light (optical) and electricity (electronic). In regular computers, most signals are processed electronically (using electrical currents). However, optoelectronic devices can process signals using both light and electricity. This allows for much faster data transmission, lower energy loss, and the ability to handle huge amounts of data quickly.
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The new computing cell, called MOD-PC, is built using light-sensitive tungsten diselenide (WSe2), a 2D material that holds great promise for creating next-generation, deeply scaled computing chips.
Kumar, the lead author of the study, explained that the computing unit draws inspiration from the visual cortex of the human brain. This allows it to learn from optical light signals, mimic synaptic plasticity, and store data for long-term use.
The device can also perform digital, analogue, and mixed-signal operations within a single unit, helping to overcome the traditional memory and power limitations faced by conventional computing systems, he added.
Bhattacharya, a senior research fellow at IIT Delhi, led the fabrication and implementation of the MOD-PC chips. She shared that producing semiconductor chips from WSe2, which measure only a few nanometres in thickness and size, was challenging.
However, with persistent efforts and advanced fabrication techniques, the team successfully achieved this breakthrough.
Speaking about its real-world impact, Das, principal investigator of the project, said that the development of the MOD-PC device could transform neuro-vision computing hardware, with significant applications in artificial intelligence and neuro-robotics.