Two-dimensional (2D) materials were once regarded as important candidates for extending semiconductor scaling. Because they are only an atom thick, they are theoretically very suitable for fabricating extremely small, ultra-low-power transistors. However, once these ideas move into advanced logic processes, challenges begin to surface. The problem lies in the fact that using 2D materials to fabricate FETs requires process control that is nearly at the single-atom level
The rapid growth of generative AI and large-scale models has significantly increased power consumption in computing chips, pushing thermal management into critical focus. High-end AI accelerators now consume power at kilowatt levels, producing concentrated heat fluxes that challenge existing cooling methods, potentially limiting performance and reliability across data center systems
The isolation of graphene in 2004 sparked widespread expectations that two-dimensional (2D) materials could fundamentally reshape electronic devices. Graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have since enabled progress in niche applications and research prototypes. Yet their impact on mainstream logic devices remains limited. The long-anticipated use of 2D materials to sustain Moore's Law through transistor channel integration has yet to materialize at scale
AI is inevitably driving innovation in global server architecture. AI servers differ significantly from traditional servers in design philosophy and operational mode. This reflects not only innovations in computing architecture but also emerging challenges in energy consumption and thermal management driven by rapidly increasing computational demands
The UN has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, recognizing significant breakthroughs in quantum hardware, quantum error correction, and practical quantum applications throughout the year. Research firm QURECA reports that worldwide investment in quantum technologies has exceeded US$55.7 billion, reflecting growing global interest
Quantum communication, which uses phenomena such as entanglement to enable highly secure data transmission via photons, is set for significant expansion. Market forecasts estimate the sector will reach around US$1.2 billion in 2024 and continue growing at an annual rate approaching 30% through 2035. Early applications like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum networks are already being adopted in industries, despite obstacles such as high costs and the absence of standardized protocols
Quantum sensing, one of the three pillars of quantum technology alongside quantum computing and quantum communication, is rapidly advancing toward commercial use. By leveraging quantum effects at atomic or subatomic scales, quantum sensors enable precision and security beyond the reach of conventional systems
Rare earth elements (REEs), comprising 17 chemical elements including the 15 lanthanides from lanthanum (La, atomic number 57) to lutetium (Lu, 71), plus scandium and yttrium, are essential materials with unique optical, electrical, magnetic, and catalytic properties. Often called "industrial vitamins" or "industrial gold," REEs are indispensable in many high-tech industries
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their groundbreaking experimental work demonstrating macroscopic quantum tunneling, a phenomenon showing that quantum effects can manifest in systems large enough to be observed directly
Quantum technologies, long confined to academic theory, are now laying the groundwork for a revolution in navigation. While the term "quantum computing" often raises fears about data security, the underlying physics is enabling next-generation navigation systems for defense and civilian use
