Intel is engaged in the manufacture of 1 nm chips using CFET transistors

We’re still getting used to chips produced in 5nm lithography, but the semiconductor industry is already thinking beyond, in the process of 3nm, 2nm and even 1nm. In this way, Intel is already eyeing CFET transistors for the production of 1 nm chips. Let’s try to better understand what this technology is.

Intel introduces news for the 1 nm process

According to the information provided by the channel Tom’s Hardwareduring the technology event ITF World 2023, in Antwerp, Belgium, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Technology Development at Intel, Ann Kelleher, presented some data on the latest developments of Intel in several areas.

One of the revelations made by the executive is related to the adoption by the Californian company of CFET transistors in the future, especially for the production of advanced chips of just 1 nm. This is the first time that Pat Gelsinger’s brand reveals this new type of transistors, however a release date for the production of the new chips has not yet been indicated.

In the presentation of the image above we see that for the next year of 2024, Intel has prepared the RibbonFET transistors, a GAA (Gate-All Around) project that gives density to the transistor and offers performance improvements.

As for the CFET, which means Complementary FET, its design has been in the company’s plans for some time, but now it is that they are starting to be revealed.

The details show that this design will allow Intel to have 8-layer nanosheet transistors, which in essence are two 4-layer nanosheets with RibbonFET, which then increases the density of the transistor. For now, two types of CFETs are under analysis, monolithic and sequential. You can learn even more about CFET here.

On the other hand, although Intel lists the CFET right after the RibbonFET transistor for 2024, it does not mean that this technology will be used soon by Intel, since it is estimated that it will take several years before we have something concrete with these characteristics, namely the 1nm chips.

Details are still very few, but this is certainly a topic on which we will be attentive to bring you all the news that is being revealed.