Chinese researchers develops world’s first 1nm thin RISC-V chip using 2D materials

Chinese scientists have created the world’s most advanced two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor microprocessor, named Wuji. This 32-bit RISC-V chip, less than 1 nanometre thick, integrates 5,900 transistors. The research, led by Professors Bao Wenzhong and Zhou Peng from Fudan University’s National Key Laboratory of Integrated Circuits and Systems, was published in Nature on April 2, 2025. The chip does not require extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and is set for pilot-scale production.

Silicon-based chips are reaching their miniaturization limits. 2D materials, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), are an alternative due to their atomic thickness and physical properties. Until now, the most complex 2D circuit, developed by Vienna University of Technology in 2017, had 115 transistors. Wuji’s 5,900 transistors mark a significant increase.

The chip’s fabrication involved maintaining atomic-scale precision and uniformity. The team tested a 30 x 30 array of 900 inverters, with 898 functioning correctly, achieving a 99.77% yield. Inverters showed strong signal output and low energy loss. AI was used to optimize processes, building on a 2021 study. About 70% of production uses existing silicon-based lines, while 2D-specific steps are supported by over 20 Chinese patents.

Wuji uses the open-source RISC-V architecture, avoiding proprietar...