A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison has found a way to grow graphene in nanoribbons form having the desired semiconducting properties. The researchers said that the newly discovered way could help improve the performance of electronic devices in future.

Researchers have explained that graphene is quite a thin sheet of carbon atoms that conducts electricity. It is the most commonly used material today in computer chips. The researchers said that in order to derive complete advantage of the material, it should be in nanoribbons.

The newly developed way could also found its usage in industrial and military use. The researchers have explained the technology. They have affirmed that the researchers have used chemical vapor deposition and a germanium wafer with methane was sprayed. Eventually, methane gets absorbed by the germanium wafer and it decomposes into graphene.

Main aim to use methane in small amount is slow down the growth rate as at that pace, the graphene crystals will grow into ribbons. Arnold said that when graphene grows on germanium then it naturally forms nanoribbons.

In the research published in the journal Nature Communications, study's lead researcher Michael Arnold, said, "Graphene nanoribbons that can be grown directly on the surface of a semiconductor like germanium are more compatible with planar processing that's used in the semiconductor industry". Currently, the researchers have been working to refine their method.