Graphene Computer Chip Runs on Light, Not Electricity

Computing is getting a little greener, thanks to a material called graphene

New studies suggest that integrating the "strongest material in the world" into computer chips would allow them to run off of light. Currently, most chips require electricity.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University and IBM’s T. J. Watson Research Center led the studies, which were published in Nature Photonics. The chip uses incoming light to knock electrons out, converting them into electrical energy.

According to MIT, the new chips could cut back on power consumption and heat production. As another bonus, the chips could be faster and cheaper to make. Read more...