Diamond can also act as a semiconductor, and it has been proposed as a base material for electronic chips, replacing silicon.

A new synthetic diamond created by scientists could replace silicon in semiconductors and have other industrial uses.

Professor Geim concludes: "At the moment it's a dream, but it's a good dream - and in 20 years from now, who knows, graphene may replace silicon."

The leading candidate to replace silicon being pursued by, well, pretty much everyone, is graphene.

Most researchers will tell you that printable computer components are not designed to replace silicon.

Graphene nanoribbons may prove generally capable of replacing silicon as a semiconductor.

Its applications may include replacing silicon in high-performance electronic devices.

Plastic semiconductors do not perform as well as silicon and will not replace silicon in computer chips.

Its crystal structure may allow it to replace silicon in silicate minerals.