Chinese university designed 'world's first silicon-free 2D GAAFET transistor,' claims new bismuth-based tech is both the fastest and lowest-power transistor yet
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
A research team from Peking University has published its findings on a two-dimensional, low-power GAAFET transistor, the first of its kind in the world. Led by Professor Peng Hailin and Qiu Chenguang, the multi-disciplinary team published in Nature, with some team members calling the discovery nothing short of a monumental breakthrough.
The Peking team has fabricated what the paper describes as a "wafer-scale multi-layer-stacked single-crystalline 2D GAA configuration."
"It is the fastest, most efficient transistor ever," said Peng of his team's breakthrough. 'If chip innovations based on existing materials are considered a 'short cut,' then our development of 2D material-based transistors is akin to 'changing lanes,'' continues Peng in a statement for Peking University's website (accessed via South China Morning Post).
The team claims to have tested their transistor against products from Intel, TSMC, Samsung, and elsewhere, where it outperformed them under matching operating conditions.
To break down the technobabble, we must start with GAAFET. Gate-all-around field-effect transistors, GAAFET for short, are the next evolution of transistor technology after MOSFETs and FINFETs.
Innovation in transistors has largely been driven by better control of sources and gates communication; MOSFETs have a source touched on one plane by a gate, FINFETs have three planes touch their gates, where gate-all-around surrounds sources in their intersecting gates, as the name would imply. Below is Samsung's illustrative diagram on the differences (plus Samsung's proprietary MBCFET version of GAAFET).
GAAFET transistors are nothing new; the transistor technology is essential for fabricating microchips at 3nm and below. Peking's major innovation comes from the two-dimensional nature of their transistors, facilitated by using an element other than silicon.
Bi₂O₂Se, or bismuth oxyselenide, is a semiconductor material studied for its use in sub-1nm process nodes for years, largely thanks to its ability to be a 2D semiconductor. Two-dimensional semiconductors, like 2D Bi₂O₂Se, are more flexible and sturdy at a small scale than silicon, which runs into reduced carrier mobility at even the 10nm node.
Such breakthroughs into stacked 2D transistors and the move from silicon to bismuth are exciting for the future of semiconductors and are necessary for the Chinese industry to compete on the leading edge of semiconductors.
Thanks to a U.S.-China trade war over chips and modern technology, China finds itself cut off from tools like EUV lithography that enable the production of processors on nodes that the rest of the tech world has been producing for nearly a decade. As a result, China has invested heavily in research that will allow it to leapfrog the current state of the tech industry, not content to catch up merely.
While 2D GAAFET transistors may not be the future of semiconductor fabrication, the study represents burgeoning young minds in China prepared to innovate on what is possible to push the industry forward. As the United States stands ready to ramp up its trade embargoes and restrictions against China's tech access, including a potential ban on GAAFET technology, China's tech industry is racing against the clock of warring empires.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
China Closer To Solving Hyperloop Train's Biggest Flaw
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chinese researchers have announced breakthroughs that may resolve the most persistent engineering flaw in vacuum-tube maglev systems, an issue that has stumped Elon Musk and other developers. Scientists in Shanxi province, working at the country's first full-scale maglev vacuum test facility, say they've developed a suspension system that dramatically reduces the intense vibrations that plagued earlier Hyperloop prototypes. Why It Matters Hyperloop technology has the potential to get passengers from point A to point B at record speeds. It uses magnetic levitation through vacuums, which means there is no air resistance on the front of the vehicle, allowing transport tubes to move at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The technology has been tested across the world, including India and Italy. What To Know However, current versions of the technology often produce intense vibrations that would make travel very difficult for passengers inside the tubes. These turbulent oscillations, especially at speeds exceeding 373 mph, previously rendered the passenger experience physically intolerable, even "unbearable," according to some engineers. However, Chinese researchers have now developed an AI-guided suspension system that counters the worst of these vibrations. Scientists at the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation said that their suspension system reduced vertical vibrations by 45.6 percent and achieved comfort scores below the Sperling Index threshold of 2.5, a scale for assessing ride comfort and quality in rail vehicles. People look at a demostration test sled after the first test of the propulsion system at the Hyperloop One Test and Safety site on May 11, 2016 in North Las Vegas, Nevada People look at a demostration test sled after the first test of the propulsion system at the Hyperloop One Test and Safety site on May 11, 2016 in North Las Vegas, Nevada Getty Images The engineers combined two different approaches to neutralize disruptive motion in near-vacuum conditions. The first simulates an invisible, stabilizing tether that is "hooked to the sky," adjusting to vehicle motion dynamically. The second uses a tuning algorithm to adapt to changing environmental inputs and correct deviations in real-time. This approach is managed by an artificial intelligence module trained through genetic algorithms to control the suspension system. Testing with a scale model vehicle was conducted using a motion simulator based in Shanxi. What People Are Saying A spokesperson for HyperloopTT, the Los Angeles-based company delivering Italy's hyperloop project, told Newsweek: "We're witnessing the transition from hyperloop as a futuristic concept to an imminent reality. "Hyperloop is a system that moves people and goods safely, efficiently, and sustainably by bringing airplane speeds to the ground." At a Boring Company launch event, Elon Musk said: "The Loop is a stepping stone toward Hyperloop. The Loop is for transport within a city. Hyperloop is for transport between cities, and that would go much faster than 150 mph." What Happens Next The scale model tests will evolve into full-scale tests in China while other projects across the world continue to advance.


Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
Samsung scores a win in Galaxy S22 throttling saga, but it still deceived customers
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR A Korean court has ruled that Samsung wasn't liable for damages after it throttled Galaxy S22 phones. However, the court acknowledged that Samsung engaged in 'deceptive labeling and advertising that was likely to mislead consumers.' Samsung throttled S22 phones out of the box back in 2022 and didn't let users disable this functionality at first. Samsung made headlines for all the wrong reasons in early 2022 when it turned out that the company was throttling its Galaxy S22 phones as part of its Game Optimizing Service (GOS) software. Now, a Korean court has largely ruled in Samsung's favor in a class-action lawsuit. A Seoul court found (via Yonhap News) that Samsung engaged in 'deceptive labeling and advertising that was likely to mislead consumers' by throttling the gaming performance of Galaxy S22 series phones. However, the court also ruled that Samsung wasn't liable for damages as plaintiffs presented 'insufficient evidence' to prove damages. According to ZDNet Korea, the court also said there were no restrictions on the S22 line's general performance, adding that the throttling only applied to some 'high-spec' games. Therefore, the court found it difficult to see this throttling as a factor that 'significantly' influences the purchasing decisions of general customers. The class-action lawsuit was filed by a group of just over 1,800 smartphone owners who claimed damages of 300,000 won (~$221) per person. Samsung used its GOS software to throttle Galaxy S22 phones in a bid to reduce heating when playing games. This throttling also applied to previous Galaxy phones, but Samsung made it mandatory on the Galaxy S22 devices and didn't disclose this fact at first. What was also particularly controversial was that this throttling applied to games but didn't apply to benchmark apps. The company would later release an update that allowed users to reduce this throttling. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.


CNBC
an hour ago
- CNBC
If all the AI developers are in China, the China stack is going to win, Nvidia CEO tells CNBC
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discusses the AI technology battle with CNBC's Arjun Kharpal, saying the U.S. risks losing out to China if it cuts off access to Chinese AI researchers.