The challenge
Brief: design a Crystal-EM Hybrid transistor that achieves at least 150% of the silicon baseline's maximum switching frequency. Open the Chip Builder, start from an empty canvas, and apply everything you've learned. No Guided Build, no template loader — your design choices, your call.
Process:
1. Decide your channel material, gate stack, geometry. 2. Build it in the Chip Builder. 3. Run Switching Speed in the Test Lab. 4. Load the Silicon Baseline template, run the same test, divide. 5. If your ratio is < 1.5×, iterate (use the Copilot if helpful). 6. When you pass, mark the challenge complete in the tracker below.
Beat Silicon by 50%
Target: switching speed ≥ 1.5× silicon baseline
Strategy notes (no spoilers)
Three levers move switching speed the most:
- Channel mobility — how fast electrons travel. - Gate control — how sharply the device switches (think SS, geometry). - Drive efficiency — how little gate-input swing you need to flip the channel.
The hints panel above will name specific materials/components if you get stuck. Each hint costs 10 XP (visible in the tracker). Try to solve it cold first.
When you pass, complete the quiz below to claim your Lab Rat badge (auto-awarded on track completion) plus the bonus XP. Track 6 — Mastery — unlocks next.
- Open canvas. Empty slate. Your move.
- Goal: design a Crystal-EM Hybrid that beats silicon by ≥50% on switching speed.
- No step-by-step guidance — apply everything from Lessons 1–5.
- Hints available (visible XP cost) if you get stuck.