Wafers microchips:  While silicon’s dominance will be difficult to shake in the short term because of its proven process chain, cost-effectiveness, and broad application base, the introduction of new materials will be inevitable as technology advances and the demand for higher efficiency, smaller size, and specific functionality grows.

For example, gallium nitride is already making its presence felt in power converters and high-speed electronics, while carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional materials such as molybdenum sulfide are seen as potential candidates for future logic chips and flexible electronics.