Physics / mechanism
Nanomechanical computing uses physical displacement of nano-scale beams, membranes, or cantilevers as the switching element rather than charge accumulation. A resonant NEMS switch changes mechanical state—open/closed contact or frequency shift—under electrostatic, piezoelectric, or thermal actuation. Key parameters: switching voltage (1–5 V demonstrated), resonant frequency (1 MHz–10 GHz range), sub-aJ switching energy (theoretical), and near-zero off-state leakage (sub-fA). Gate lengths are typically 10–200 nm. State of the art: IBM, Caltech, and MIT groups have demonstrated relay-based logic in silicon, graphene, and MoS₂; contact reliability and stiction remain unsolved at scale. No commercial logic product exists.
Competitive landscape
Competing approaches include tunnel FETs (steeper subthreshold swing, CMOS-compatible), ferroelectric FETs (near-zero standby leakage, closer to fab readiness), and spin-torque logic (non-volatile, high density). MEMS relays (larger, slower, proven in RF switching) are the immediate predecessor.
Companies using
Connected ideas
Sources
Frontier (open questions)
- To be added.