Conventional CMOS scaling and the Moore's law have been the cornerstone of progress in computing hardware technology. However, with dimensional scaling expected to end soon, there is a pressing need to find the next information processing hardware that can continue to support the technology revolution. Will this hardware solution be an enhanced or an augmented version of MOSFET or a switch based on a radically new switching mechanism. Ultimately, do we require a complete deviation from the Boolean paradigm itself? In this invited paper, we will review some of the actively pursued future logic, merged logic-memory and related concepts.

As conventional transistors become smaller and thinner in the quest for higher performance, a number of hurdles are encountered. The discovery of electronic-grade 2-D crystals has added a new “layer” to the list of conventional semiconductors used for transistors. This paper discusses the properties of 2-D crystals by comparing them with their 3-D counterparts. Their suitability for electronic devices is discussed. In particular, the use of graphene and other 2-D crystals for interband tunneling transistors is discussed for low-power logic applications. Since tunneling phenomenon in reduced dimensions is not conventionally covered in texts, the physics is developed explicitly before applying it to transistors. Though we are in an early stage of learning to design devices with 2-D crystals, they have already been the motivation behind a list of truly novel ideas. This paper reviews a number of such ideas.

In this paper, we examine graphene as a material for reconfigurable terahertz (THz) optoelectronics. The ability of electrically tuning its optical properties in a wide range of THz frequencies, together with its 2-D nature and facile integration, leads to unique opportunities for inventing novel THz devices as well as for extending the performance of existing THz technologies. We first review progress in graphene THz active optoelectronic components to date, including large-area graphene, plasmonic, and metamaterial-based devices. Advanced designs and associated challenges are then discussed.