Market research firm Gartner analyst Dean Freeman, senior that has been in the carbon closest to commercialization of technology, is the development time has been more than 15 years Diamond. Three-dimensional structure of diamond is carbon, silicon chip based on the supply of 40 nm (nm) ~ 15 microns diamond film makers pointed out that the thermal efficiency is 10 times that of silicon.

Two-dimensional structure of carbon, is the thickness of 3 Egypt of a single molecular layer, also known as graphene , can be ten times higher than silicon by electron mobility, reaching trillion MHz (terahertz) frequency levels performance. As for the one-dimensional structure of the carbon, it is 1nm in diameter nanotubes , whose expertise lies beyond the speed of silicon, can reach 10 times the organic transistors.

There are zero-dimensional structure of the carbon atoms is a size 60 hollow spheres, known as fullerenes; this material is able to solve the high-temperature superconductors of silicon can not reach the issue. And alkali metal atoms intercalated arranged tightly encapsulated fullerenes can achieve superconductivity at 38K temperature.

In the next few years, the carbon process technology may replace almost all of the circuit materials, such as interconnection with the conductor components, we know semiconductors, insulators and isolation devices. However, the industry's fastest when it will begin large-scale use of carbon materials, especially in front of the uncertain economic situation, remains to be seen.

Gartner's Freeman pointed out that there are two U.S. companies have cooperation Nantero and SVTC fabless IC supplier to provide the industry's first nano-tube film development foundry services, designed to add a commercial CMOS chip making nanotube films of high performance of wire. Although carbon nanotubes developed by Nantero several components, but can not find intends to commercialize these components to customers.

"Carbon nanotubes have been below 22 nm CMOS process components, as the most viable lead material; it means to be at least five years will see the commercial." Freeman said.

Including DuPont and other large companies have developed over the carbon nanotube film, NEC has also its practical application in flexible plastic substrates using electronic components. There are other companies sucked Nanocomp nanotubes embedded in carbon fiber, you can sense the structure of cracks or other defects; also is developing nanotube cables will not only match the conductivity of copper on weight can reduce 80%.

Carbon is the leading transistor technology company IBM Fellow Phaedon Avouris study, said that carbon nanotubes have been used to make conductivity, heat dissipation and better materials, and in his opinion on the manufacture of flexible substrates with micron film channel transistors, will be the first commercial application of carbon nanotubes.

Developer of electronic components of carbon is not intended to mature with the rival silicon semiconductor technology, but to create a family with a new system of electronic functions; people remember from the old large size components micron silicon transistor start.

There are already companies such as the U.S. industry to develop Applied Nanotech nanotubes printed ink , can be used with other companies such as Optomec, using non-contact inkjet printers at low temperature aerosol deposition system; these low-cost production equipment can be locked, such as plastic solar cells, RFID labels and other price-sensitive market.