Nanoscale electron devices: The untold technology story

Some critical (but little-recognized) aspects of nanoscale electron device technology are considered. It is noted that, according to history, nanoscale electron devices will have to address some convergence of an abundance and a scarcity. A major impediment to progress is the emergence of a variety of granularities - with the main problem being less the granularities themselves than the entrenched reliance on understandings and methods which do not take those granularities into account. Extensive consideration is then given to the state of play in semiconductor electron devices - noting the material and intellectual shortcomings that are impeding these first truly ldquonanoscalerdquo electron devices. Alternative methods of understanding transistors are discussed, and the poor situation in RF microsystems is considered.