Survey, taxonomy, and methods of QCA-based design techniques - Part I: Digital circuits

Abstract

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) are a promising, novel nanoscale technology that allow the design of integrated circuits with high speed, low power consumption, and high density. Because of this potential benefit, QCA are chosen as a viable alternative to complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. In this paper, we have provided a comprehensive review of various types of digital circuits and modules in QCA nanotechnology. We have discussed circuits such as XOR/XNOR, half and full adder, multiplexers and demultiplexers, comparators, flip-flops, arithmetic and logical unit, and random-access memory. We have shown how these circuits are designed using various methodologies such as different types of cross-overs, multi-layer designs, or using cell-to-cell interaction method with their corresponding advantages and overheads. These logical circuits are compared on the basis of various parameters including cell area, total area, latency, number of cells, energy dissipation, and complexity and are explained starting from the design which is having larger cell count to the current efficient design present in terms of the above parameters. © 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.