October 23, 2024 -- Co-funded by the FNR, the project aims at reducing power consumption by 90% in electronic devices.

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and Intel Corporation have joined forces in a research project, which aims to transform the field of ultra-low-power electronics (or electronics with ultra-low power consumption levels) with the long-term goal of achieving a 90% reduction in power consumption. To achieve this, the project, entitled SWITCHON, will study the use of ferroelectric materials in next-generation electronic devices.

Addressing the pressing need to reduce power consumption

The power consumption of artificial intelligence (AI) applications is projected to reach the total world energy production by 2040. “In response to this pressing issue, SWITCHON will focus on developing sustainable AI and electronics, aligning with the societal priority of reducing energy consumption,” says Prof Jorge Íñiguez-González, Senior Principal R&T Scientist at LIST and the project leader.

The materials under study here belong to a category known as ferroelectrics — a type of compounds that exhibits spontaneous electrical polarization. They possess a permanent electric dipole that can be reoriented by introducing an external voltage. This property enables the construction of efficient field-effect transistors, which are fundamental to modern electronics. "Our challenge is to understand and optimize this 'voltage control' to improve the materials' performance," he adds. Incidentally, the project's name, SWITCHON, reflects this focus on understanding voltage control in ferroelectric materials. It serves as an analogy to "switching on" these materials, or manipulating their electric dipoles, by applying a voltage.

“SWITCHON will rely on advanced quantum simulation methods that will allow us to study realistic computer models of ferroelectric nanomaterials, and thus understand – at an atomistic level – the main factors that control (and may allow us to improve) the material’s performance in actual electronic devices,” explains Íñiguez-González. “Quantum simulation methods, as developed and applied by LIST researchers, are a critical tool in modern nanoscience and nanotechnology research, as they offer insights that cannot be achieved experimentally at present.”

A high-impact collaboration

Intel's involvement in the project stems from its interest in reducing overall energy consumption in electronic devices by 90%. “Intel produces a staggering 10 billion transistors per second. A 90% increase in power efficiency of the transistors’ operation could lead to a substantial reduction in global energy consumption,” adds Íñiguez-González. “Given this potential for energy savings, the resulting impact could be very significant.”

SWITCHON will thus conduct research with a clear technological goal, laying the foundation for future technological breakthroughs. The ultimate objective is to enhance performance and reduce power consumption, aligning with Intel's commitment to sustainability and efficiency.

Led by Prof Íñiguez-González from LIST and Dr Raseong Kim from Intel, SWITCHON will run for three years. The project is co-funded by Intel, LIST and the FNR (Luxembourg National Research Fund) through the BRIDGES programme, which supports industry collaborations between public research institutions in Luxembourg and national or international companies.

Dr Bianca Rita Pistillo, Lead Business Development Officer LIST, has said: “Frugal and sustainable Information Technologies play a crucial role in fostering the ongoing development of a digital society. These challenges require addressing through innovative computing concepts that rely on control over material properties using ultra-low power electronic signals. We are pleased to see global companies like Intel contributing their expertise to support such research endeavours taking place in Luxembourg.”

“Significantly reducing today’s power consumption requirements is critical for bringing AI everywhere and continuing the progression of Moore’s Law,” says Sanjay Natarajan, Intel senior vice president and general manager of Technology Research. “This collaborative research project co-funded by FNR and Intel and led by Professor Íñiguez-González will help pave the way for super energy-efficient beyond-CMOS (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) computing hardware based on low switching voltage devices.”