Scientists create tiny electronic circuits with great technological potential

A team of scientists led by CIFAR’s Guillaume Gervais have created one of the world’s smallest electronic circuits. The circuits consist of two wires only 150 atoms apart. The team discovered that current in one wire can produce current in the second wire. They were surprised to find that there are also voltage increases in these circuits, up to 25%. These findings have great potential for improving the speed and power of electronic circuits in technologies like computers and smart phones. Experts in the field are very excited about how these new circuits can be used to harness heat produced in electrical circuits, where energy lost as heat from one nanowire can be transferred to other wires nearby. Read more