Geometry Induced Crosstalk Reduction in CNT Interconnects for VLSI Circuits

This paper proposes novel triangular cross sectioned geometry of carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles for crosstalk and hence, delay reduction in CNT bundle interconnects for VLSI circuits. We formulate the equivalent single conductor (ESC) transmission line models of the interconnects and show that the coupling capacitance of triangular bundle is 29% lesser than the traditionally used square bundles of carbon nanotube interconnects. We further simulate the proposed ESC models of capacitively coupled CNT bundle interconnects using Smart SPICE and find that the crosstalk induced delay of triangular interconnects is 30% lesser as compared to square bundle interconnects. The reduction in delay is found to increase as the number of CNTs increase in the bundle. From these results, we suggest that triangle cross-sectioned CNT bundles are the most suitable candidates as global interconnects.