DNA molecules: IBM's new concept in micro-chip building

             DNA Origami (IBM)

Gordon Moore, one of Intel’s founders, declared the number of transistors on an integrated circuit would increase at an exponential rate, approximately doubling every two years. Moore made that statement in 1965 and has been right every year since then.

Still, the semiconductor industry is concerned. They may not be able to keep pace with Moore’s Law much longer, due to physical limitations encountered in 22 nm lithography.

There is hope

IBM may have found a solution for sub-22 nm lithography. Using DNA molecules as scaffolding, carbon nanotubes can be assembled into precise patterns and ultimately transistors. It’s called DNA origami. According to Dr. Narayan, manager of IBM Science and Technology Research:

“This is the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry.”

Dr. Narayan goes on to point out:

“The combination of this directed self-assembly with today’s fabrication technology eventually could lead to substantial savings in the most expensive and challenging part of the chip-making process.”

The Register’s Tony Smith describes the exact process in IBM twists DNA for future chip fab tech.

Final thoughts

If this works, Moore’s Law will still ring true for quite some time. A scientist friend of mine keeps mentioning that eventually it will be hard to tell a biological virus from an electronic one. I wonder if this is the first step.

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