Date Time Smarter electronics a step closer with nanotech advance As silicon-based technology reaches its absolute limits, a material engineered by University of Queensland researchers could herald the next generation of electronics with more memory, faster speeds and advanced features. The carbon-based material could contribute to a growing nanoelectronics market predicted to be worth $162 billion by 2027. Professor Debra Bernhardt from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB) said potential applications included telecommunications, automatic access systems and medical equipment. ”Graphene has long been considered a promising material for use in electronics, with its high mechanical strength and electrical and thermal conductivity, but it has limitations,” Professor Bernhardt said.