Editorials in 2021

Technology breakthroughs at the 2021 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting, which is once again being held as an in-person event in San Francisco.

Transistors made from two-dimensional materials have been around for a decade, but do the devices have a realistic future in integrated circuits?

Ion implantation can be used to dope silicon devices, but can be problematic when applied to the atomically thin crystal structure of two-dimensional materials — an increasing range of alternative methods is though available.

From submillimetre-sized devices to entire rooms, wireless power transfer is a valuable technology in a range of settings.

Flexible devices based on organic semiconductors could be of use in the development of wearable electronics and the Internet of Things, but face competition from other established and emerging technologies.

Technology breakthroughs at the 2021 Symposia on VLSI Technology and Circuits.

Two-dimensional structures that are engineered to manipulate electromagnetic radiation are becoming increasingly practical and could be of use in bioelectronics and communications.

The coronavirus pandemic and an increased demand for semiconductor technology has led to a global chip shortage — and a re-evaluation of global supply chains.

How did Taiwan — home to the world’s largest semiconductor foundry, TSMC — become a leading player in global electronics?

Wearable sensors and machine learning can be a powerful combination for capturing human gestures and tactile interactions.

The development of competitive field-effect transistors based on two-dimensional semiconductors will also require the development of suitably scaled insulators.

For our 2021 technology of the year, we explore the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on digital technology.