First molybdenite microchip

 Molybdenite, a new and very promising material, can surpass the physical limits of silicon. EPFL scientists have proven this by making the first molybdenite microchip, with smaller and more energy efficient transistors.

After having revealed the electronic advantages of molybdenite, EPFL researchers have now taken the next definitive step. The Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) has made a chip, or integrated circuit, confirming that molybdenite can surpass the physical limits of silicon in terms of miniaturization, electricity consumption, and mechanical flexibility.

"We have built an initial prototype, putting from two to six serial transistors in place, and shown that basic binary logic operations were possible, which proves that we can make a larger chip," explains LANES director Andras Kis, who recently published two articles on the subject in the scientific journal ACS Nano.

In early 2011, the lab unveiled the potential of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a relatively abundant, naturally occurring mineral. Its structure and semi-conducting properties make it an ideal material for use in transistors. It can thus compete directly with silicon, the most highly used component in electronics, and on several points it also rivals graphene.

Three atoms thick

"The main advantage of MoS2 is that it allows us to reduce the size of transistors, and thus to further miniaturize them," explains Kis. It has not been possible up to this point to make layers of silicon less than two nanometers thick, because of the risk of initiating a chemical reaction that would oxidize the surface and compromise its electronic properties. Molybdenite, on the other hand, can be worked in layers only three atoms thick, making it possible to build chips that are at least three times smaller. At this scale, the material is still very stable and conduction is easy to control.

Not as greedy

MoS2 transistors are also more efficient. "They can be turned on and off much more quickly, and can be put into a more complete standby mode," Kis explains. Molybdenite is on a par with silicon in terms of its ability to amplify electronic signals, with an output signal that is four times stronger than the incoming signal. This proves that there is "considerable potential for creating more complex chips," Kis says. "With graphene, for example, this amplitude is about 1. Below this threshold, the output voltage would not be sufficient to feed a second, similar chip."

Built in flexibility

Molybdenite also has mechanical properties that make it interesting as a possible material for use in flexible electronics, such as eventually in the design of flexible sheets of chips. These could, for example, be used to manufacture computers that could be rolled up or devices that could be affixed to the skin.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The original article was written by Sarah Perrin.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal References:

Branimir Radisavljevic, Michael Brian Whitwick, Andras Kis. Integrated Circuits and Logic Operations Based on Single-Layer MoS2. ACS Nano, 2011; 111110093932007 DOI: 10.1021/nn203715cSimone Bertolazzi, Jacopo Brivio, Andras Kis. Stretching and Breaking of Ultrathin MoS2. ACS Nano, 2011; 111116094409009 DOI: 10.1021/nn203879f

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

First molybdenite microchip

Molybdenite, a new and very promising material, can surpass the physical limits of silicon. EPFL scientists have proven this by making the first molybdenite microchip, with smaller and more energy efficient transistors.

After having revealed the electronic advantages of molybdenite, EPFL researchers have now taken the next definitive step. The Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES) has made a chip, or integrated circuit, confirming that molybdenite can surpass the physical limits of silicon in terms of miniaturization, electricity consumption, and mechanical flexibility.

"We have built an initial prototype, putting from two to six serial transistors in place, and shown that basic binary logic operations were possible, which proves that we can make a larger chip," explains LANES director Andras Kis, who recently published two articles on the subject in the scientific journal ACS Nano.

In early 2011, the lab unveiled the potential of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a relatively abundant, naturally occurring mineral. Its structure and semi-conducting properties make it an ideal material for use in transistors. It can thus compete directly with silicon, the most highly used component in electronics, and on several points it also rivals graphene.

Three atoms thick

"The main advantage of MoS2 is that it allows us to reduce the size of transistors, and thus to further miniaturize them," explains Kis. It has not been possible up to this point to make layers of silicon less than two nanometers thick, because of the risk of initiating a chemical reaction that would oxidize the surface and compromise its electronic properties. Molybdenite, on the other hand, can be worked in layers only three atoms thick, making it possible to build chips that are at least three times smaller. At this scale, the material is still very stable and conduction is easy to control.

Not as greedy

MoS2 transistors are also more efficient. "They can be turned on and off much more quickly, and can be put into a more complete standby mode," Kis explains. Molybdenite is on a par with silicon in terms of its ability to amplify electronic signals, with an output signal that is four times stronger than the incoming signal. This proves that there is "considerable potential for creating more complex chips," Kis says. "With graphene, for example, this amplitude is about 1. Below this threshold, the output voltage would not be sufficient to feed a second, similar chip."

Built in flexibility

Molybdenite also has mechanical properties that make it interesting as a possible material for use in flexible electronics, such as eventually in the design of flexible sheets of chips. These could, for example, be used to manufacture computers that could be rolled up or devices that could be affixed to the skin.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The original article was written by Sarah Perrin.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal References:

Branimir Radisavljevic, Michael Brian Whitwick, Andras Kis. Integrated Circuits and Logic Operations Based on Single-Layer MoS2. ACS Nano, 2011; 111110093932007 DOI: 10.1021/nn203715cSimone Bertolazzi, Jacopo Brivio, Andras Kis. Stretching and Breaking of Ultrathin MoS2. ACS Nano, 2011; 111116094409009 DOI: 10.1021/nn203879f

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Apple's iPhone 4 8GB Deals Receive First Discounts

The new iPhone 4 8GB edition from Apple offers a lower memory capacity for a smaller price tag than the two larger capacity 16GB and 32GB models but up until now has been priced very similarly to the deals for the 16GB refurbished handset.

Retailers have been able to offer significant discounts on the iPhone 4 16GB as a 'clearance' phone by inspecting, refurbishing and re-boxing their returned stock which has kept deals for the 16GB edition very close to those of a brand new 8GB version.

This has now changed as mobile phone suppliers secure cheaper prices for the new iPhone 4 8GB and pass the savings onto consumers via new discounted pay monthly contract deals, on release the new 8GB iPhone would have cost a minimum of £35 per month over a two year contract deal which was the same for the 16GB model.

Now, the brand new Apple iPhone 4 8GB can be ordered on T-Mobile with no upfront costs for as little as £30.64 line rental per month, that is a substantial saving of £104.64 over the minimum 24 month agreement.

Included in this T-Mobile tariff known as 'iPhone 30 + Unlimited Text' are 300 minutes of inclusive calls which can be used to call any network (including landlines) at any time of the day, an unlimited number of text messages which again can be sent to any network and a healthy 500MB of internet access which is essential for the iPhone 4 8GB to operate at full capacity.

The closest any other network gets to this free offer for the 8GB iPhone is from Orange which for a £31 per month line rental charge will allocate either 100 or 200 inclusive minutes on two separate tariffs, the first offers the fewer minutes but with unlimited SMS and substantial 1GB of inclusive data whilst the second only 250 text messages and 500MB of internet access.

The other three UK networks currently offering deals for the iPhone 4 8GB charge significantly more per month for a free phone, 3 Mobile ask for £35 per month, Vodafone require £36 and O2 are the most expensive at £37 line rental costs.

The 8GB edition of the iPhone 4 is to be the only model continued to be manufactured as the 16GB and 32GB versions are phased out in favour of the new iPhone 4S, this latest Apple release is already available in 16GB and 32GB variants but also a new, larger 64GB edition.

If you would like to take a look at the latest, discounted iPhone 4 8GB deals or peruse the new iPhone 4S deals then please pop over to our website: Phones Limited.

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Be The First One To Grab: Hints On the iPhone 5 Release Date

While more and more speculations about the upcoming iPhone 5 features consistently come out, still, people are left guessing about the much awaited iPhone 5 release date. No one outside the Apple company knows exactly when will it be but that doesn't mean that you can only wait without a clue until Apple reveals a clear iPhone 5 release date. Who knows if even the people from the Apple company are still certain about the date? Somehow, you could adjust your expectations and not grow impatient about the iPhone 5 release date by having a reasonable hint about the grand launch.

IPhone 5 was first expected to come out by the month of June or July 2011 but since an AT&T representative once confirmed that Apple informed the company to not expect the product in the said month and that it will be pushed to September 2011, people expected it as they stated.

As the months passed, more information about the iPhone 5 release date are shared over different media platforms. In a press note by the Avian Securities, it was said that iPhone 5 will go in production by July. In that case, people predicted the phone to hit the stores late in 2011 or early in 2012.

Though many people are becoming tired of waiting, the delay of iPhone 5 release date is somehow acceptable to most people since one probable cause was the recent disaster that had hit Japan where the manufacturing plant of Apple's lithium ion batteries are greatly affected. To most tech geeks, that will be considerable thinking that one of the anticipated features of iPhone's 5th generation is having an extended battery life.

In another light, a lot of people are also expecting the smart phone on September 2011 since the iOS 5 that Apple just announced will be released on the same month. Along with this exciting operating system which, will introduce another pack of cool features, Apple will also introduce their new generation of iPods and iPod touches. CNET UK assumed in a report that iOS 5 will be best complemented by the release of iPhone 5. Similarly, there are assumptions saying that the iPhone 5 release date needed to be held back until iOS 5 is ready for launch since the two will go well on a grand launch.

Varied maybe but however, with these hints, you can somehow estimate when will Apple be ready to reveal its newest baby. With the features having spread over the Internet, most of you are surely going crazy about the moment you will be able to catch or take a glimpse at iPhone 5. But with as much updates about the release, you can somehow contain your obsession and patiently wait for this phone that is known as a major hit in the making.

Read more about latest iphone 5 news on this site iphone 5 review

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The World's First Smartphone - IBM's Simon

The world sure has changed a lot over the last two decades. The technological improvements transformed our lives, making it easier to communicate with each other and finding out new things with just the press of a button. Nowadays, billions of dollars revolve each year around the smartphone market, with approximately four hundred million users across the globe. But do you remember when it all started? Do you remember how it all started?

The year was 1994 when IBM came up with this slogan - ''Mobile Communications Made Simple." The slogan marks the birth of the world's first smartphone, or personal communicator as it was called in those days. The handset was designed by IBM and received the name Simon. This revolutionary device acted like a cellular phone but in the same time it much offered more than simple voice communications. Users were able to employ IBM's Simon as a wireless machine, an electronic mail device, a pager, a calendar, an address book, calculator or pen-based sketchpad. I know, this would simply qualify as a low-end smartphone these days, but in 1994 it was a pretty big deal.

Whoever interested in the handset had to pay a heavy price in order to enjoy its capabilities. No less than $899, which is a lot of money even as we speak, not to mention 17 years ago. The personal communicator was rather heavy, weighing in at more than a pound, and it had a liquid crystal display, or LCD while offering a telephone keypad as well as computer one. It was like you had a computer built inside you cellular which really made you stand out of the crowd.

When used as a cellular phone, Simon could offer all the standard cellular features, including all of today's classics - last number redial, last 10 number redial, a built in 911 emergency call button, address book audio dial and even roaming preference. On the other hand, when using Simon as a personal communicator, users found it easy to access the handset's graphical user interface, which used icons and on-line help screens making the device much more user-friendly. Obviously, it had limited storage capabilities but you had the option to increase it via a personal computer memory card slot. The same card slot allowed users to add a paging card if they wanted to receive electronic messages on both nationwide and local basis, thanks to MobileComm which was IBM's paging company. Furthermore, the slot contained an organizer feature and a calendar, which could have been updated automatically from a remote computer.

Even without the above mentioned slot card, Simon still had the capability to send and receive E-mail through most public E-mail systems. Also, using Simon, you could create faxes and memos by using pen-touch screens or even by writing them directly on the screen with the use of a stylus. The moment you sent that certain fax, you handwriting was reflected exactly as it was, without being digitized in order to look like a printed word. The technology created a huge frenzy in those times and is used constantly in the present as well, being called pen annotation. This isn't the only patented technology that Simon brought to the customers. Ever heard of predictive keyboard? Sure you have! Well, you might not have heard about it if it wasn't for Simon, the first smartphone ever to use this IBM technological marvel. Using the predictive keyboard, only a part of the keyboard was displayed on the LCD screen and the user selected a few letters, Simon predicted the next letters most likely to use. As a comparison, it was like the Siri application on Apple's iPhone 4S; it simply was able to blow your mind. The impact it had on the people was huge, it even appeared in the popular movie ''The Net'', where it ''played'' an important role.

The IBM Simon was undoubtedly a great piece of technology; it revolutionized communications and was a pioneer for all that the smartphone industry currently means. Although it was ahead of its time, as time passed it remained nothing else than a huge, heavy and horribly expensive device, so today it's nothing more than a remainder of the past and only interests collectors.

As we said, the smartphone is now an essential part of our daily life, so if you want to know all the latest news and reviews, check out our website.

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