Conventional Electronic Devices Research Articles

Analysis of the use of tobacco and electronic cigarettes in medical students at a college in a countryside city of the State of São Paulo

Objectives: Smoking remains a public health issue today, despite the efforts of authorities to reduce this habit. Unfortunately, what is witnessed today is similar to what was seen around the time of the introduction of cigarettes in the 1950s, since electronic smoking devices emerged as a new interface for smoking, even presenting themselves as a way to reduce the habit. This present study conducted at a medical school aimed to highlight smoking, whether through conventional cigarettes or electronic smoking devices, among medical students and the reasons why they engage in this behavior. Methods: For this purpose, a descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative, descriptive, and statistical analysis of the data was conducted. Results and Conclusion: After analysis, it was observed that smoking initiation mostly occurred during undergraduate studies, with stress being the most commonly cited reason for this habit. It was also inferred that the majority of smokers are male, and that women have a greater intention to quit the habit.

Breathable and Stretchable Epidermal Electronics for Health Management: Recent Advances and Challenges.

Advanced epidermal electronic devices, capable of real-time monitoring of physical, physiological, and biochemical signals and administering appropriate therapeutics, are revolutionizing personalized healthcare technology. However, conventional portable electronic devices are predominantly constructed from impermeable and rigid materials, which thus leads to the mechanical and biochemical disparities between the devices and human tissues, resulting in skin irritation, tissue damage, compromised signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and limited operational lifespans. To address these limitations, a new generation of wearable on-skin electronics built on stretchable and porous substrates has emerged. These substrates offer significant advantages including breathability, conformability, biocompatibility, and mechanical robustness, thus providing solutions for the aforementioned challenges. However, given their diverse nature and varying application scenarios, the careful selection and engineering of suitable substrates is paramount when developing high-performance on-skin electronics tailored to specific applications. This comprehensive review begins with an overview of various stretchable porous substrates, specifically focusing on their fundamental design principles, fabrication processes, and practical applications. Subsequently, a concise comparison of various methods is offered to fabricate epidermal electronics by applying these porous substrates. Following these, the latest advancements and applications of these electronics are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges are summarized and potential future directions in this dynamic field are explored.

Ln3+-doped glasses: Advancing molecular logic for integration into photonic and electronic devices

The rapid miniaturization of electronic devices has pushed the limits of conventional silicon-based technologies, creating a pressing need for novel approaches to sustain the exponential growth of computing power. This study explores the innovative application of Ln3+-doped glasses in developing molecular logic systems as a potential solution. Exploiting Eu3+ and Dy3+, we investigated the luminescence properties under various physical stimuli such as excitation wavelength and temperature. Our findings reveal the capability to construct logic elements of varying complexity, from simple AND and OR gates to advanced FULL-ADDER and FULL-SUBTRACTOR circuits. This work represents the first instance of using Ln3+ exclusively for molecular logic via physical stimuli. The robust and stable optical properties of the doped glasses enable their integration into conventional electronic and photonic devices, potentially revolutionizing the landscape of molecular logic and computing. This research not only enhances the understanding of light-matter interactions in Ln3+-doped systems but also opens new pathways for the development of miniaturized, high-performance innovative computational devices.

Shock value: advancing sustainable sensing materials

Shock value: advancing sustainable sensing materials Biomolecular crystals have emerged as exciting new sustainable piezoelectrics. Currently, little research is focused on developing these crystals as reliable, solid-state sensors to integrate into conventional electronic devices due to their water solubility, uncontrolled growth, variable response and electroding difficulties. Pb-FREE is taking on the challenge of accelerating the design, growth, and engineering of these novel piezoelectric materials through high-throughput computational screenings, novel crystal growth procedures, and standardised electromechanical characterisation and packaging.

Predictable Gate-Field Control of Spin in Altermagnets with Spin-Layer Coupling.

Spintronics, a technology harnessing electron spin for information transmission, offers a promising avenue to surpass the limitations of conventional electronic devices. While the spin directly interacts with the magnetic field, its control through the electric field is generally more practical, and has become a focal point in the field. Here, we propose a mechanism to realize static and almost uniform effective magnetic field by gate-electric field. Our method employs two-dimensional altermagnets with valley-mediated spin-layer coupling (SLC), in which electronic states display valley-contrasted spin and layer polarization. For the low-energy valley electrons, a uniform gate field is approximately identical to a uniform magnetic field, leading to predictable control of spin. Through symmetry analysis and abinitio calculations, we predict altermagnetic monolayer Ca(CoN)_{2} and its family materials as potential candidates hosting SLC. We show that an almost uniform magnetic field (B_{z}) indeed is generated by gate field (E_{z}) in Ca(CoN)_{2} with B_{z}∝E_{z} in a wide range, and B_{z} reaches as high as about 10^{3} T when E_{z}=0.2 eV/Å. Furthermore, owing to the clean band structure and SLC, one can achieve perfect and switchable spin and valley currents and significant tunneling magnetoresistance in Ca(CoN)_{2} solely using the gate field. Our work provides new opportunities to generate predictable control of spin and design spintronic devices that can be controlled by purely electric means.

Topological quantum materials for spintronics

AbstractSpintronics is an innovative field that exploits the intrinsic spin property of electrons instead of their charge, holding the promise of revolutionizing conventional electronic devices. Over the past decade, researchers have been actively exploring new materials as potential replacements for traditional spintronic materials. This endeavor is driven by the aspiration to create spintronic devices with ultralow power consumption, ultrahigh storage density, and remarkable stability. In recent years, topological quantum materials (TQMs) have attracted considerable interest due to their unique band structure and exceptional properties. These materials carry the potential to pave the way for breakthroughs in the design of spintronic devices, offering promising solutions to solve challenges currently faced in the field of spintronics. In this review, we first introduce the properties of various TQMs, including band structure and crucial transport properties. Subsequently, we focus on the diverse applications of TQMs in spintronics. Delving further, we discuss the current challenges and the potential directions for advancing and exploring TQMs.

The principle of magnetic flux switch

This paper introduces an innovative Magnetic Switch (MFS) designed to control and alter magnetic flux within energy system components, offering an alternative to conventional power electronic devices. The MFS comprises a low-current control coil, a control core, and a high-density magnetic flux-carrying main core combined with a main coil energy system. In this novel magnetic configuration, when a low-power current excites the control coil, the magnetic flux in the main core (supplied by the main coil) decreases to nearly zero. Conversely, when the control coil disconnects from the power source, the magnetic flux within the main core attains its maximum value. This operation positions the MFS as a groundbreaking concept within magnetic-based energy systems, akin to transistors in power electronics. The main outcomes of the MFS concept are that it can vary the magnetic flux of the main core in the large range, and it is a fast magnetic switch with a simple and low power loss control circuit and an independent control coil from the main coil. Analytical studies thoroughly elucidate the performance and advantages of this proposed magnetic switch, substantiated by Finite Element Method simulations and experimental prototype outcomes.

Design and Development of Transient Sensing Devices for Healthcare Applications.

With the ever-growing requirements in the healthcare sector aimed at personalized diagnostics and treatment, continuous and real-time monitoring of relevant parameters is gaining significant traction. In many applications, health status monitoring may be carried out by dedicated wearable or implantable sensing devices only within a defined period and followed by sensor removal without additional risks for the patient. At the same time, disposal of the increasing number of conventional portable electronic devices with short life cycles raises serious environmental concerns due to the dangerous accumulation of electronic and chemical waste. An attractive solution to address these complex and contradictory demands is offered by biodegradable sensing devices. Such devices may be able to perform required tests within a programmed period and then disappear by safe resorption in the body or harmless degradation in the environment. This work critically assesses the design and development concepts related to biodegradable and bioresorbable sensors for healthcare applications. Different aspects are comprehensively addressed, from fundamental material properties and sensing principles to application-tailored designs, fabrication techniques, and device implementations. The emerging approaches spanning the last 5 years are emphasized and a broad insight into the most important challenges and future perspectives of biodegradable sensors in healthcare are provided.

(Invited) Direct Bonding and Its Interface for High-Density Integration of Superconducting Qubits

Superconducting qubits are one of the intensive approaches to fabricate quantum computing (QC). Qubits can be manufactured by the current Si-based semiconductor manufacturing processes. However, circuits should be superconducting material such as Nb (Tc=9.29 K), Al (Tc=1.18 K), Pb (Tc=7.2 K), In (Tc=3.4 K) , etc. In current technology, qubits are arranged in planar geometry in a chip, and each qubit should wire to control and read signal lines in the same plane. When a large number of qubits are integrated, these wires would be too constrained, and several problems would be actualized, such as wiring for qubits located at the chip center, crosstalk among wiring, and so on. The signal integrity for the QC devices is much better to have qubits at short distances from the control circuitry. Therefore, 3D wiring is required for a large-scale qubit integration. 3D integration of qubits with interposer chips by flip-chip bonding is the proof-of-concept of the large-scale qubit integration. The 3D integration approaches for qubit- based devices are the same as conventional electronic devices, including the through silicon via (TSV) process for interposers and micro bump flip-chip bonding. However, they use superconducting metals instead of copper and other non-superconducting materials. Most flip-chip microbump bonding processes require thermal compression at over 170 °C. Superconducting elements are easily degraded by heat. Consequently, we apply surface activated bonding (SAB) to a superconducting metal as a low-temperature bonding process for superconducting circuits.The test element group (TEG) for the current-voltage (I-V) measurement of the bonded interface was bonded by SAB method, and at the Nb SAB interface layer is a 2- to 3-nm-thick amorphous layer and the layer consist of Si-rich interfacial layer compared to the Nb bulk area. The bonding specimens were activated on jigs made of Si during the bonding process; then the Si sputtered by FAB was redeposited on the bonding surfaces. Furthermore, the bonded specimen was wired using Al wire to a chip carrier with a stage installed into a 0.3-K cryostat. As a result, the Tc of this path is 9.3 K, which is very similar to that of Nb bulk (9.2 K). However, a small step of the Tc at 9.1-9.4 K was also observed. (Fig.1) [1]In this study, we discuss the superconducting interface of direct bonded Nb-Nb by Tc, and also the interfacial structure measured by polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR). The results show clear spin asymmetry in the superconducting state, as splitting is observed in the fringes of the parallel neutron (neutron spins parallel to the external magnetic field 0.1 T) reflection R+ and the antiparallel (neutron spins antiparallel to it) reflection R−, where the latter has become larger. This well-known effect is related to the flux penetration in the superconducting state. Therefore, unique information about the superconducting state of the buried thin film can be measured by using the polarized neutron beam. For this project the major advantage of PNR will be to characterize the superconducting state at the deeply buried Nb interfaces, sandwiched between the two substrate wafers, which would be infeasible using alternate techniques.[1] M. Fujino, et. al., J. Appl. Phys., 133, 015301, 2023 Figure 1

Abstract 12595: Vascular and Cardiac Ultrasound as the Primary Imaging Tool to Safely Deliver Pacing Leads While Implanting Single Chamber Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices. RADICAI USE Investigators

Introduction: Conventional Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) implantation requires fluoroscopy. Risks involved with implantation include pneumothorax, lead dislodgement, and perforation of the right ventricular wall. In addition, there are long-term risks of malignancy associated with prolonged and repeated use of radiation over the decades of operators’ employment and mechanical injuries related to heavy personal protection equipment. To reduce these risks, we aimed to study the utilization and safety of ultrasound (US) for the entire procedure to implant single-chamber devices. Methods: The RADICAI USE study (Reduction or Elimination of Radiation Use in Single Chamber Cardiac Devices using ultrasound) is a prospective, single-arm and multi-operator case series enrolled patients awaiting a single-chamber CIED. A fluoroscopic cut-off time of 20 seconds was used to define the success (Group A) or failure (Group B) of using the US for the entire implant duration. Patients were followed up at 1 week, 1 month and 1-year post-implant. Results: The study enrolled 63 patients, with 50 pacemakers and 13 ICDs, a mean age of 79.5 ± 13.8 years (95% CI = 76.1 - 82.9), and a mean weight of 74.1 ± 14.6 (95% CI = 70.5 - 77.7). Overall, 53 (84.1%) CIEDs were successfully implanted with a radiation time of less than 20 seconds (Group A). Fluoroscopic over 20 seconds was required due to poor echocardiographic windows, challenging access, or anatomy. No iatrogenic new or worsening of tricuspid regurgitation was noted. The mean procedure time including US setup time was 65.2 ± 20.2 (95% CI = 60.2 -70.2) minutes. Fluoroscopic time was significantly reduced in Group A compared to Group B (5.8 ± 4.5s vs 109.5 ± 92.9s, p = 0.004). Follow-up showed no device-related complications, with only two patients requiring lead revisions due to poor sensitivity, one unrelated to US use and another probably related. Conclusions: US-guided implantation of single-chamber CIEDs is feasible and safe, reducing the need for fluoroscopic guided implantation and subsequent risks of higher radiation exposure. Further studies are required to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and to explore fluoroscopic-free single-chamber CIED implantations using the US.

A clinical comparison of sagittal condylar inclination and Bennett angle derived from a conventional electronic tracking device and an optical jaw tracking device

The challenges of conventional methods to measure the sagittal condylar inclination and the Bennett angle include patient discomfort and an output of averaged values calculated on the arc of mandibular movement. Programming these average values into a mechanical or mathematically simulated articulator may introduce occlusal errors. The purpose of this clinical study was to compare the sagittal condylar inclination and Bennett angle measurements derived from a conventional electronic tracking device and an optical tracking device. Fifteen dentate participants with at least 12 occluding units, 25 years old and above, participated in the study. Each participant's mandibular movements were recorded by the 2 systems for different condylar guidance values. A conventional tracking device, the Cadiax Compact 2, and an optical tracking device, the MODJAW, were used for this study. Sagittal condylar inclination was measured at 3mm and 5mm using protrusive records and the values of the Bennett angle at 3mm were measured using excursive records along the path traced by mandibular condyles. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the paired data from the 2 methods. A significant difference was found between right (P=.007) and left sagittal condylar inclinations (P=.010) measured at 3mm with the conventional and optical tracking devices. A significant difference was found between right (P=.015) and left sagittal condylar inclinations (P=.004) measured at 5mm with the conventional and optical tracking devices. The right and left Bennett angles measured at 3mm with the conventional and optical tracking devices were statistically different (P=.043 and P=.035 respectively). The sagittal condylar inclination and Bennett angle measured at different positions along the path of movement exhibited significant differences. The sagittal condylar inclination and Bennett angle values obtained from the conventional tracking device were generally significantly less than those derived from the optical tracking device.

Electric Double Layer Based Epidermal Electronics for Healthcare and Human-Machine Interface.

Epidermal electronics, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is advancing the development of flexible devices that can seamlessly integrate with the skin. These devices, especially Electric Double Layer (EDL)-based sensors, overcome the limitations of conventional electronic devices, offering high sensitivity, rapid response, and excellent stability. Especially, Electric Double Layer (EDL)-based epidermal sensors show great potential in the application of wearable electronics to detect biological signals due to their high sensitivity, fast response, and excellent stability. The advantages can be attributed to the biocompatibility of the materials, the flexibility of the devices, and the large capacitance due to the EDL effect. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of EDL epidermal electronics as wearable sensors for health monitoring and wound healing. These devices can analyze various biofluids, offering real-time feedback on parameters like pH, temperature, glucose, lactate, and oxygen levels, which aids in accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Beyond healthcare, we explore the role of EDL epidermal electronics in human-machine interaction, particularly their application in prosthetics and pressure-sensing robots. By mimicking the flexibility and sensitivity of human skin, these devices enhance the functionality and user experience of these systems. This review summarizes the latest advancements in EDL-based epidermal electronic devices, offering a perspective for future research in this rapidly evolving field.

Transmission grating couples and enhances the second harmonic of the electron beam to generate tunable high-power terahertz radiation.

Vacuum electronic devices utilizing free-electron-based mechanisms are a crucial class of terahertz radiation sources that operate by modulating electron beams. In this study, we introduce what we believe is a novel approach to enhance the second harmonic of electron beams and substantially increase the output power at higher frequencies. Our method employs a planar grating for fundamental modulation and a transmission grating operating in the backward region to augment the harmonic coupling. The outcome is a high power output of the second harmonic signal. Contrasting with traditional linear electron beam harmonic devices, the proposed structure can achieve an output power increase of an order of magnitude. We have investigated this configuration computationally within the G-band. Our findings indicate that an electron beam density of 50 A/cm2 at 31.5 kV can produce a 0.202 THz center frequency signal with an output power of 4.59 W. As the electron beam voltage is adjusted from 23 kV to 38.5 kV, the output signal frequency shifts from 0.195 THz to 0.205 THz, generating several watts of power output. The starting oscillation current density at the center frequency point is 28 A/cm2, which is significantly lower in the G-band compared to conventional electron devices. This reduced current density has substantial implications for the advancement of terahertz vacuum devices.

Two-dimensional metal halide perovskites and their heterostructures: from synthesis to applications.

Size- and shape-dependent unique properties of the metal halide perovskite nanocrystals make them promising building blocks for constructing various electronic and optoelectronic devices. These unique properties together with their easy colloidal synthesis render them efficient nanoscale functional components for multiple applications ranging from light emission devices to energy conversion and storage devices. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) metal halide perovskites in the form of nanosheets (NSs) or nanoplatelets (NPls) are being intensively studied due to their promising 2D geometry which is more compatible with the conventional electronic and optoelectronic device structures where film-like components are usually employed. In particular, 2D perovskites exhibit unique thickness-dependent properties due to the strong quantum confinement effect, while enabling the bandgap tuning in a wide spectral range. In this review the synthesis procedures of 2D perovskite nanostructures will be summarized, while the application-related properties together with the corresponding applications will be extensively discussed. In addition, perovskite nanocrystals/2D material heterostructures will be reviewed in detail. Finally, the wide application range of the 2D perovskite-based structures developed to date, including pure perovskites and their heterostructures, will be presented while the improved synergetic properties of the multifunctional materials will be discussed in a comprehensive way.

Spin filters based on two-dimensional materials Co2Si and Cu2Si

Spintronic devices have several advantages compared with conventional electronic devices, including non-volatility, faster data processing speed, higher integration densities, less electric power consumption and so on. However, we still face challenges for efficiently generating and injecting pure spin polarized current. In this work, we utilize two kinds of two-dimensional materials Co2Si and Cu2Si with both lattice match and band match to construct devices and then research their spin filter efficiency. The spin filter efficiency can be improved effectively either by an appropriate gate voltage at Co2Si region, or by series connection. In both cases the filter efficiencies are much larger than two-dimensional prepared Fe3GeTe2 spin valve and ferromagnetic metallic chairlike O-graphene-H. Also at a quite small bias, we obtain a comparable spin polarized current as those obtained in Fe3GeTe2 spin valve and O-graphene-H obtained at a much larger bias.

Unconventional computing based on magnetic tunnel junction

The conventional computing method based on the von Neumann architecture is limited by a series of problems such as high energy consumption, finite data exchange bandwidth between processors and storage media, etc., and it is difficult to achieve higher computing efficiency. A more efficient unconventional computing architecture is urgently needed to overcome these problems. Neuromorphic computing and stochastic computing have been considered to be two competitive candidates for unconventional computing, due to their extraordinary potential for energy-efficient and high-performance computing. Although conventional electronic devices can mimic the topology of the human brain, these require high power consumption and large area. Spintronic devices represented by magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) exhibit remarkable high-energy efficiency, non-volatility, and similarity to biological nervous systems, making them one of the promising candidates for unconventional computing. In this work, we review the fundamentals of MTJs as well as the development of MTJ-based neurons, synapses, and probabilistic-bit. In the section on neuromorphic computing, we review a variety of neural networks composed of MTJ-based neurons and synapses, including multilayer perceptrons, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and spiking neural networks, which are the closest to the biological neural system. In the section on stochastic computing, we review the applications of MTJ-based p-bits, including Boltzmann machines, Ising machines, and Bayesian networks. Furthermore, the challenges to developing these novel technologies are briefly discussed at the end of each section.

Spin-defect qubits in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides operating at telecom wavelengths

Solid state quantum defects are promising candidates for scalable quantum information systems which can be seamlessly integrated with the conventional semiconductor electronic devices within the 3D monolithically integrated hybrid classical-quantum devices. Diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center defects are the representative examples, but the controlled positioning of an NV center within bulk diamond is an outstanding challenge. Furthermore, quantum defect properties may not be easily tuned for bulk crystalline quantum defects. In comparison, 2D semiconductors, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), are promising solid platform to host a quantum defect with tunable properties and a possibility of position control. Here, we computationally discover a promising defect family for spin qubit realization in 2D TMDs. The defects consist of transition metal atoms substituted at chalcogen sites with desirable spin-triplet ground state, zero-field splitting in the tens of GHz, and strong zero-phonon coupling to optical transitions in the highly desirable telecom band.

Short-term plasticity, multimodal memory, and logical responses mimicked in stretchable hydrogels

<h2>Summary</h2> Stretchable hydrogels are developed to interact with biological interfaces through ionic signaling. However, the intelligence of artificial hydrogels is far less powerful than biological systems. There is no channel to mediate complex ion flows in signal transduction, and thus the existing bulk hydrogels lack the ability to process and memorize information in a logical manner. Herein, inspired by the biological ion channels, we develop asymmetric "trimeric" hydrogels to control the spatiotemporal distribution of ion flows. The hydrogels can sense external stimuli, encode logical responses, emulate synaptic plasticity, and even memorize images in a multistore model. More intriguingly, they are transparent, stretchable, and work stably under large deformation. They overcome the optical and mechanical limitations encountered by conventional electronic devices. The bionic design paves an avenue for intelligent hydrogel ionotronics and will bridge the gap between human-machine interfaces.

Paper based self-powered UV photodiode: Enhancing photo-response with AZO back-field layer

The development of self-powered UV photodiode on green substrate is still a challenge. In this study, highly conductive Al doped ZnO (AZO) film was sputter-deposited on paper substrate at room temperature; subsequently, paper-based Schottky photodiodes were successfully fabricated by following Au-ZnO-Al and Au-ZnO-AZO-Al structure designs, respectively. These UV light-based devices operate successfully without external power. Au-ZnO-AZO-Al photodiode shows improved response and faster speed compared to Au-ZnO-Al photodiode. The one-dimensional Poisson simulation results demonstrate that the improvement is attributed to the strong electric field in the ZnO-AZO n-n+ high-low junction, thus, enhancing the collection rate and drifting speed of the photogenerated carriers. In addition, AZO can form favorable ohmic contact with the Al electrodes, further improving the device performance. The photo-response of the paper-based photodiode device shows high reproducibility and stability. Based on these outstanding results, we conclude that these paper-based electronic devices have great potential to replace conventional petroleum-based flexible electronic devices, thus, contributing to the green/sustainable development.

High β‐phase Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Using a Thermally Decomposable Molecular Splint

AbstractAn additive, 1,4‐butadiene sulfone (BDS), which generates H2SO3 by in situ thermal retro‐Diels‐Alder decompositions, is used for preparing high β‐phase polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films. Because of preferential multiple non‐covalent interactions of H2SO3 with all‐trans configuration of PVDF, β‐phase PVDF is spontaneously induced without mechanical drawing and/or extensive thermal annealing process. PVDF films cast from PVDF/BDS/water solutions exhibit high β‐phase content (fβ = 95%) when the BDS concentration is only cBDS = 1.0 wt%, which is confirmed by polarized optical microscopy (POM), SEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), differential scan calorimetry (DSC), and 2D grazing incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS). Because of the high β‐phase content, PVDF films prepared by using BDS exhibit excellent ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties (Ec = 50 MV/m, Pr = 5 µC/cm2, and d33 = ≈‐25 pm/V). Furthermore, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) developed with high β‐phase PVDF film exhibits enhanced performance as 2.5 times higher than neat PVDF film in output charge density, allowing reliable operation of conventional electronic devices.