Researchers from the Tyndall Institute at University College Cork have made a key contribution to the creation of a new programmable microchip that could accelerate the development of 6G networks and satellite communications.
The microchip combines ultra-low-power memristor switches based on multilayer hexagonal boron nitride with high-performance monolithic microwave integrated circuit technology on gallium arsenide.
Unlike conventional electronic switches, the new components retain their configuration without a constant power supply, which ensures almost zero power consumption in standby mode.
The technology has for the first time been successfully integrated into fully functional millimeter-wave radio circuits and demonstrated in several key radio-frequency components.
The work has been published in the journal Nature and was carried out by an international team including specialists from Singapore, Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
Professor Dimitra Psychogiou, who heads the advanced technology group at Tyndall, noted that the publication highlights the power of international cooperation in addressing the most important challenges of future wireless systems.
How exactly will such energy-efficient solutions affect everyday communication in the coming years?
The development is especially relevant against the backdrop of growing demand for flexible and cost-effective networks capable of handling significantly more data than current systems.
