Graphene Nanoribbon FETs for Multi-Valued Logic: Literature Insights and a Compact Ternary Multiplier Design

As the limitations of silicon-based CMOS technologies become increasingly pronounced at sub-7 nm nodes, alternative transistor architectures and logic paradigms are gaining traction. Among these, graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistors (GNRFETs) offer promising prospects for implementing multi-valued logic systems, particularly ternary logic, due to their exceptional electrical, thermal, and scaling characteristics. This literature survey investigates the state-of-the-art in GNRFET research with a specific focus on their application in ternary logic circuits. Key developments in GNRFET-based gate design, digital building blocks, and simulation methodologies are reviewed, alongside their performance advantages in terms of power, delay, and scalability over conventional MOSFETs. As a case study, a novel 26-transistor 1-trit ternary multiplier architecture is introduced, demonstrating the potential of GNRFETs in compact, high-efficiency ternary computing systems. The review consolidates existing knowledge while highlighting future research directions for integrating GNRFET-based ternary logic into ultra-low-power VLSI design.