AdvertisementScienceChinaScienceHuawei and scientists build 2D parallel computing chip that rewrites Moore’s Law
Marking a global first for 2D semiconductors, the new microprocessor overcomes silicon size limits to boost density and slash data delays
2-MIN READ2-MIN2 ListenZhang Tongin BeijingPublished: 9:00pm, 28 May 2026Chinese researchers, in collaboration with Huawei Technologies, have built the world’s first parallel processor using a two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor.As silicon devices approach their physical size limits, Moore’s Law – the observation that computing power doubles roughly every two years, while the cost of computers is cut in half – is hitting a wall.
But two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum disulfide are naturally atom-thin, allowing electrons to move stably and efficiently and making them strong candidates to sustain Moore’s Law.
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A team from Nanjing University’s School of Integrated Circuits, together with Huawei, created the first molybdenum disulfide-based multi-bit parallel microprocessor. Their work was published in Nature Electronics on Tuesday.
The device – called Mengqi-1000, or Magic-1000 in English – achieved record-breaking integration density, a measure of how many transistors can be packed onto a microchip.
AdvertisementAccording to Nanjing University professor Shi Yi, this development shows that China is not only a leader in fundamental 2D semiconductor research but is also carving a path towards mass production through collaboration with industry.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x
