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Role of Nanotechnology in RF Communication
By Vandana Sharma, on June 23, 2017
Introduction to Nanotechnology
The nanotechnology area is a new and rapidly developing research domain that is expected to radically transform communications and computing for the future.
Growth and Applications of Nanotechnologies
The field of nanotechnologies has exploded with opportunities and promise in recent years. The domains where this paradigm has benefitted vary from medicine to space and industrial applications.
Nanotechnology and Its Multidisciplinary Nature
Nanotechnology as a field attempts to harness effects and functionality that take place in materials and structures incorporating nano-scale features, which can be tuned at will. The field is extremely multidisciplinary as the control over tuning the performance can be achieved by physical, electronic, chemical, and biochemical means.
Historical Context of Nanotechnology
Having been utilized as early as medieval times with the use of gold nanoparticles in the materials used for colored glass at the time, nanotechnology has seen a surge in interest and activity in recent decades.
Advancements and Challenges in Nanotechnology
This may be due to numerous reasons, the most important of which is the enhanced ability to control and characterize materials and structures on the nanometer scale with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. In spite of the successes achieved by nanotechnology research, major challenges still lie ahead. Issues such as device performance sensitivity, fabrication techniques that lend themselves to manufacturing large-scale integrated circuits, and fabrication process robustness have to be sorted out before the field is successfully utilized in industrial settings.
Nano-scale Research and its Implications
Research at the nano-scale is typically in a range of 1 to 100 nm. Materials at the nano-scale can have different electrical, optical, and magnetic properties that can result in new applications. Performance and power characteristics of circuits at the nano-scale can also lead to new applications.
Challenges in Communications and Nanotechnology
As technologies rapidly evolve into the nano-scale, several challenges are anticipated regarding the successful creation, utilization, and deployment of nanotechnology-based solutions in the communications area.
Key Research Areas in Communications and Nanotechnology
Key areas for communications-related research include but are not limited to interconnects for communication networks, interconnects for 3D die stacking, sensor design, photonic applications, nonlinear design applications, radio frequency (RF) design using nano-materials/nanometer complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), wireless networking, nano-energy generation, energy scavenging, electronic brain design, molecular techniques in medical/biological applications, and applications of nano electro mechanical systems (NEMS) for communications.
Analysis of Relevant Research Papers
I tried to review a few papers based on it. And my analysis is as follows.
Overview of “Nanoscale Materials and Devices for Future Communication Networks”
The first article is titled “Nanoscale Materials and Devices for Future Communication Networks,” by M. Saif Islam and Logeeswaran VJ. This article presents an overview of current research related to nano-materials for future computing and communications designs, nano-photonics-based interconnects, and nanomaterials-based sensors. It discusses interesting research topics such as memristors, DNA electronics, carbon-based nanomaterials, nanomagnetics, and nano-scale quantum dots.
Overview of “Applications of Graphene Devices in RF Communications”
The second article is titled “Applications of Graphene Devices in RF Communications,” by Tomás Palacios, Allen Hsu, and Han Wang. It introduces graphene (a one-atom thick layer of carbon atoms), discusses graphene properties, growth techniques for synthesis, key issues for fabrication properties of graphene ambipolar transistors, and applications such as the design of graphene resonators, RF switches, and low noise amplifiers.
Overview of “Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanoscale Ad Hoc Networks”
The third and final article is titled “Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanoscale Ad Hoc Networks,” by Baris Atakan and Ozgur B. Akan. It suggests ad hoc networks based on CNT-based nano-communication systems, addressing design challenges associated with nanotransceiver design along with power, processing, and memory constraints. It addresses wireless communication challenges in such networks, deployment and reliability issues, and options for medium access control design in these networks.