- Imec sets a world record in superconducting circuit density, achieving 3.8 million Josephson junctions per square centimeter.
- The new circuits use niobium-tantalum-nitride, enabling more computing components to be installed in a smaller space.
- Superconducting systems support high computational density and bandwidth, crucial for data centers.
- Imec is developing technology that can be integrated with existing semiconductor manufacturing methods.
Imec has announced a world record in superconducting circuit density, packing 3.8 million Josephson junctions into a single square centimeter. The research center has also produced superconducting wiring with a width of just 30 nanometers. Imec showcased these achievements at the 2026 Applied Superconductivity Conference (ASC). These results could aid the expansion of superconducting technology into future high-performance computing systems and support the high workload demands of modern US data centers.
Materials and Design of the New Circuits
The new circuits utilize niobium-tantalum-nitride (NbTiN), with Imec constructing these circuits on a three-layer metal base. The smallest Josephson junction has a diameter of just 150 nanometers. These tiny components allow engineers to fit more computing elements into a smaller space. Josephson junctions act like extremely fast electronic switches, processing signals with minimal energy consumption. This efficiency makes superconducting circuits attractive for high-performance computing. Imec anticipates that this technology could eventually achieve significant energy savings compared to traditional CMOS chips.
Superconducting systems also support higher computational density and bandwidth. As data centers handle increasingly heavy workloads, these advantages become more critical. This approach is particularly useful for computing systems where data transmission consumes a lot of power. Superconducting circuits can process signals at extremely high speeds, thereby reducing some losses.
Advantages and Challenges of Superconducting Circuits
Imec also demonstrated a three-layer NbTiN wiring system, with the narrowest wires measuring just 30 nanometers wide—about one-tenth the width of wires used in traditional niobium-based superconducting technology. Smaller wires help engineers fit more connections into the same space, transmitting signals between different parts of the circuit and connecting components across multiple layers. Superconducting materials have another major advantage: they transmit current with almost no resistance at extremely low temperatures, meaning there is minimal energy loss as signals move through the system. This helps engineers address the growing energy consumption demands of large computing systems.
Imec can also tune the electrical characteristics of its junctions and wires, providing engineers with greater flexibility in designing circuits for different applications. Imec is leveraging 300mm semiconductor manufacturing processes to develop this technology, which is the same wafer size widely used in modern chip production. This compatibility could make the research easier to integrate with existing semiconductor manufacturing methods and also provides a path for building larger and more complex superconducting circuits.
The research center is also conducting research into 2.5D and 3D integration, methods that allow different components to work together in a highly integrated system. Richard Rouse, program director of Imec’s Superconducting Digital program, stated that the program is targeting fabs, large data centers, and system companies. This technology could eventually extend beyond high-performance computing and data centers, with Imec also seeing potential applications in quantum computing, photonics, and neuromorphic computing.
However, superconducting hardware still faces a major challenge: these circuits typically require extremely low temperatures to maintain their superconducting state, making their deployment more difficult than traditional chips. According to Imec, the 3.8 million junction density at this level is a world first, and the 30-nanometer wiring demonstration points toward smaller and more compact superconducting systems.
Potential Applications and Challenges of Superconducting Technology
Imec's superconducting circuit technology demonstrates significant potential in high-performance computing and data centers, particularly in increasing computational density and efficiency within a smaller space. The success of this technology not only helps meet the growing demand for energy consumption but could also drive advancements in emerging fields such as quantum computing and photonics. However, the reliance of superconducting circuits on low temperatures remains a major barrier to their widespread adoption, making their deployment more challenging compared to traditional chips.