7 nm process
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MOSFET scaling (process nodes) |
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Future
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In semiconductor manufacturing, the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors defines the 7 nanometer (7 nm) node as the technology node following the 10 nm node.
Single transistor 7 nm scale devices were first produced in the early 2000s – as of 2017 commercial production of 7 nm chips is at a development stage.
History
Technology demos
In 2002, IBM produced a 6 nm transistor.[1]
In 2003, NEC produced a 5 nm transistor.[2]
In 2012, IBM produced a sub-10 nm carbon nanotube transistor that outperformed silicon on speed and power.[3] "The superior low-voltage performance of the sub-10 nm CNT transistor proves the viability of nanotubes for consideration in future aggressively scaled transistor technologies," according to the abstract of the paper in Nano Letters.[4]
In July 2015, IBM announced that they had built the first functional transistors with 7 nm technology, using a silicon-germanium process.[5][6]
Expected commercialisation and technologies
Although Intel has not yet divulged any certain plans to manufacturers or retailers, it has already stated that it would no longer use silicon at this node.[7] A possible replacement material for silicon would be indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) or graphene.[8]
In April 2016, TSMC announced that 7 nm trial production would begin in the first half of 2017.[9] In March 2017 TSMC announced 7 nm risk production in June 2018.[10]
In September 2016, GlobalFoundries announced trial production in the second half of 2017 and risk production in early 2018, with test chips already running.[11]
In February 2017, Intel announced Fab 42 in Arizona will produce microprocessors using 7nm manufacturing process.[12]
References
- ^ IBM claims world's smallest silicon transistor
- ^ NEC test-produces world's smallest transistor.
- ^ "IBM: Tiny carbon nanotube transistor outshines silicon". Cnet.com. January 30, 2012.
- ^ Franklin, Aaron D.; et al. (2012). "Sub-10 nm Carbon Nanotube Transistor". Nano Letters. 12 (2): 758–762. doi:10.1021/nl203701g.
- ^ IBM Research builds functional 7nm processor
- ^ IBM Discloses Working Version of a Much Higher-Capacity Chip - NYTimes.com
- ^ "ISSCC 2015: Intel 10 nm Last Silicon Node". Android Authority.
- ^ Intel forges ahead to 10nm, will move away from silicon at 7nm. Feb 2015
- ^ WATCH OUT INTEL AND SAMSUNG: TSMC IS GEARING UP FOR 7NM PROCESSING WITH TRIAL PRODUCTION
- ^ "TSMC Tips 7+, 12, 22nm Nodes | EE Times". EETimes. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
External links
- Summary technology trend targets lists the 2013 predictions of the 7nm node characteristics.
| Preceded by 10 nm |
CMOS manufacturing processes | Succeeded by 5 nm |
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