Germanium-tin enables faster transistors for quantum computers

A group of researchers in Jülich has rediscovered the transistor material germanium. This material already played an important role as a semiconductor for transistors during the early days of computing, but was later replaced by silicon. The germanium-tin transistors developed by the researchers could, in turn, replace silicon due to their promising properties and are a strong candidate for future high-performance chips.

Charge carriers in the material can move faster than in silicon or germanium, which means that lower operating voltages are required for the transistors to function. This results in lower power consumption, which could reduce costs for large server centers and extend battery life in mobile devices. Furthermore, germanium-tin is more resistant to cold than silicon. Therefore, these transistors could be ideally suited for use in quantum computers, where operating temperatures are just above absolute zero.

Germanium-tin transistors could also prove to be a useful building block for optical data transmission. Transmitting information via light signals is significantly faster and more energy-efficient than transfer via electrical conductors. A germanium-tin laser, also developed by Jülich researchers, could be optimally combined with the new transistor, allowing it to form an interface between electrical and optical data transmission.

Germanium therefore has a future in several sectors. An investment in this technology metal offers the opportunity for attractive returns, including tax-free purchasing and tax-free profits after a one-year holding period.