The field of electronics is undergoing a transformative phase as CMOS technology approaches its intrinsic physical and performance limits. While technologies such as FinFETs and nanosheets have historically driven advancements in computing power, miniaturization, and cost efficiency, they now face challenges such as escalating power consumption, thermal bottlenecks, short-channel effects, and limited voltage scalability. These issues present significant barriers to further scaling and make it increasingly difficult for conventional CMOS to fulfill the demands of cutting-edge applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and energy-constrained edge devices.
To address these challenges, beyond-CMOS device concepts are gaining momentum, powered by innovative materials, novel switching mechanisms, and disruptive circuit paradigms. Potential candidates include negative capacitance FETs (NCFETs), Landau FETs, tunneling FETs (TFETs), ferroelectric FETs (FeFETs), spintronic and magneto-electric devices, and van der Waals heterostructures utilizing 1D/2D materials. Simultaneously, wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), alongside MEMS-based devices, offer new avenues for low-power logic, non-volatile memory, and high-performance power electronics. Collectively, these technologies are opening pathways for energy-efficient and scalable computing systems beyond the traditional CMOS paradigm.
This Research Topic aims to explore the spectrum from materials discovery to system-level demonstrations, with a focus on accelerating the transition of emerging devices into practical, energy-efficient computing solutions. To gather further insights into this promising frontier, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
Emerging devices like NCFETs, Landau FETs, TFETs, Spintronic devices
MEMS-based systems for multifunctional integration
Applications of wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN)
1D/2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures
Organic and oxide ferroelectric devices
Advanced modeling, compact models, and simulation frameworks
Circuit- and system-level design, and experimental validations
We invite Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspectives from both academia and industry, aiming to bridge the gap from fundamental breakthroughs to practical implementations in energy-efficient, beyond-CMOS computing.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Community Case Study
Conceptual Analysis
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Community Case Study
Conceptual Analysis
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Original Research
Perspective
Policy and Practice Reviews
Review
Study Protocol
Systematic Review
Technology and Code
Keywords: Beyond-CMOS devices; Energy-efficient electronics; Negative capacitance and ferroelectric FETs; Silicon carbide (SiC) and wide-bandgap semiconductors; MEMS and emerging circuit paradigms
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.