Lattice-based Integrated-signal Nanocellular Automata (LINA) for the future of QCA-based nanoelectronics

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) are one of the few currently well developed nanoelectronics paradigms which offer a potentially suitable replacement to CMOS ICs. However, to compete as a CMOS alternative, QCA circuits must show advantages in speed, density, and/or power dissipation requirements while maintaining reliabilities which are acceptable to hardware designers. Past and recent studies of these QCA properties have produced evidence that QCA may indeed provide advantages over end-of-the-line CMOS, however, not without their own set of challenges. In particular, current implementation strategies to create QCA which produce reliable room temperature operation depend on single nanometer molecular cells with no near-term fabrication solutions. In an attempt to resolve this issue, the QCA architecture has been modified to provide a reasonable route to near term implementation. These new designs feature lattice placed 2-dot QCA cells that utilize adjustable wire and gate widths which self-correct faulty signals and provide increased QCA reliabilities. With these designs, larger materials, which are able to be fabricated with near term technologies, could be explored for reliable room temperature QCA operation. This work introduces these new geometries and cell structures forming the Lattice-based Integrated-signal Nanocellular Automata (LINA) QCA variant. Simulation results of the LINA designs are also presented which show additional improvements in power, speed, and circuit density against traditional QCA designs.