Concept of the Nano-RF Project

From the strategic agendas of ENIAC, EPoSS and ITRS, it is evident that wireless applications are gaining more and more importance that results to new requirements in terms of miniaturization and increased complexity. The limitations of Moore’s Law in term of physics but also in terms of manufacturability, flexibility and multi-functionality has motivated research and development to implement new technologies and new wireless architectures identified as Beyond CMOS and More than Moore.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are featuring very attractive intrinsic multi-physic properties.

These properties coupled with CMOS compatibility offer promise for a new generation of smart miniaturised systems for wireless communications. Graphene also exhibits impressive electrical and mechanical properties. CMOS compatible microwave graphene devices, still at their infancy, hold promise for extremely low noise and high speed communications.

The coordinator (TRT) is one of the major world players in civilian & professional electronics. TAS is N°1 in Europe and N°3 worldwide for civil and military aerospace products. One key area for their products is T/R front-end systems for applications like radars for which long term solutions are continuously sought after.

The main concept of NANO-RF is the development of CNT & graphene based advanced component technologies for the implementation of miniaturised electronic systems for 2020 and beyond wireless communications and radars.