Semiconductors present in the world now are made of different materials, but one of the most famous is the Silicon take, which manufacturers say is the best there is for the chips. Several examples of this include Apple's M-series and A-series chips and Google with the Tensor chip.

However, MIT researchers argue that Silicon is not the best there is for processors but rather a discovery found in their study. 

MIT Researchers Say Silicon is Not the Best Semiconductor Material

(Photo : NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images)
In this picture taken on May 8, 2017, smartphone chip component circuits are handled by a worker at the Oppo factory in Dongguan. 

MIT researchers recently published their study in a publication called "Science," entitled "High ambipolar mobility in cubic boron arsenide," which aims to explain that there is a better processor than Silicon chips. The study mentioned that its research led them to a new semiconductor material called "cubic boron arsenide."

The paper said that it proved initial theories regarding its material being capable of high thermal conductivity, something that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers proved factual in their study.

The material is unique for the researchers as "high mobility for both electrons and holes," as per MIT professor of mechanical engineering Gang Chen (via SciTechDaily).

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New Processors with Better Performance Coming Soon?

It is unknown if these processors are to come for different mass productions available in the world today, especially as it is a relatively new study that recently proved its theories. For now, the world only recently regained its traction in creating chips for different devices, including that Silicon processors, and a change in semiconductor material may result in unknown repercussions. 

Silicon Chips and its Prominence Now

Apple is a long user of the famous Silicon system-on-chip (SoC) that brings the world an all-in-one semiconductor with all the processes that a device needs. One of its most notable releases is the M1 processor that brings the 5nm Silicon chip to power the entire MacBooks and iMacs, complete with its CPU, GPU, and memory.

The Silicon chip beat Intel and AMD's performance in the past, and it gave other competitors a run for their money on Apple's new device. It also saw several enhancements with the M1 Max and the recently released Apple MacBook Air that features the M2 Silicon chip from the Cupertino giant. 

However, it is not the only one with a Silicon chip, as Google also brought the Tensor chip to feature an SoC for the Pixel 6. 

However, despite the massive advancements of these tech companies, MIT researchers still believe that the semiconductor industry has more to give and improve on, mainly on its materials. Silicon is old news for processors, and the researchers believe that cubic boron arsenide is the better material for more enhanced performance. 

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Written by Isaiah Richard