Transient Electronic Research Articles

Ultra-fast, Self-destructing technology based on autocatalytic energetic conductive ink

Transient electronics show promising potential in data security and privacy preservation. Key criteria for transient electronic devices include quick production, short lifespan, and irreversible degradation. This article proposes a novel energetic conductive ink (EILs-Fc-SWNTs/EMOFs) with ultra-fast self-destruct performance for information protection. The ink based on carbon nanotubes modified with energetic ionic liquids and combustion rate catalysts, has advantages of high conductivity, high energy properties, and rapid production. Transient electronic devices containing micro-storage chips are achieved through direct writing technology. The writing circuit exhibits excellent conductivity (65.57 S/cm), high flexibility (2000 bending cycles), and high-energy characteristics (1640.3 J/g). The combustion temperature of the printing circuit is estimated at approximately 2100 °C. More importantly, transient electronics device commercial storage chips can be destroyed within 0.9 s.

An analytical model of reactive diffusion for transient electronics with thick encapsulation layer

Transient electronic systems are engineered to physically disappear after a predetermined period. Such systems hold significant promise for environmental sustainability and medical applications. The transient behavior relies on the interplay between water diffusion and the hydrolysis reaction of the device components, with the thickness of the encapsulation layer serving as a crucial parameter for controlling the lifetime of the device. The established analytical model for reactive diffusion, however, is limited to relatively thin encapsulation layers. We extend the analytical model to thick encapsulation layers in order to predict transient electronics’ lifetimes for both thin and thick encapsulation layers, broadening its applicability. Furthermore, we obtain a scaling law between the dissolution time and the dissolved thickness of transient electronics for the limit of a thick encapsulation layer with no reaction. This scaling law offers a robust way for calculating the dissolution time across different device configurations.

Gelatin Biogel–Liquid Metal Composite Transient Circuits for Recyclable Flexible Electronics

AbstractTransient electronics with degradability or dissolvability on demand possess remarkable characteristics for wearable, bioelectronic, and implanted electronic devices. While synthetic materials have made significant progress in degradability and stretchability, they suffer from intrinsic limitations, including low degradation rates, poor mechanical compliance, and high production cost, which restrict the growth of transient electronic devices. Herein, a versatile fabrication strategy is presented for transient electronics that combine a resilient biopolymer substrate (gelatin biogels) with liquid metal (Galinstan). The circuits made from gelatin biogel‐based and liquid metal are mechanically resilient and durable, exhibiting good compliance with irregular and deformable surfaces, and thus can withstand long‐term exposure to dynamic deformation (about 60 000 cycles at a strain of 50%). More importantly, gelatin biogels are naturally derived and endowed with thermally reversible gelling, which enables on‐demand rapid dissolution and recycling of the materials. As a proof‐of‐concept, transient circuit‐based capacitive sensors, which can be degraded within 20 s, are fabricated for monitoring finger touching, morse code generation, and electrical touchpad. Such a strategy provides a guideline for designing transient electronics with a combination of biopolymer gels and liquid metal, and this approach is anticipated to find applications in human–machine interfaces and wearable devices.

Advances in Bioresorbable Materials and Electronics.

Transient electronic systems represent an emerging class of technology that is defined by an ability to fully or partially dissolve, disintegrate, or otherwise disappear at controlled rates or triggered times through engineered chemical or physical processes after a required period of operation. This review highlights recent advances in materials chemistry that serve as the foundations for a subclass of transient electronics, bioresorbable electronics, that is characterized by an ability to resorb (or, equivalently, to absorb) in a biological environment. The primary use cases are in systems designed to insert into the human body, to provide sensing and/or therapeutic functions for timeframes aligned with natural biological processes. Mechanisms of bioresorption then harmlessly eliminate the devices, and their associated load on and risk to the patient, without the need of secondary removal surgeries. The core content focuses on the chemistry of the enabling electronic materials, spanning organic and inorganic compounds to hybrids and composites, along with their mechanisms of chemical reaction in biological environments. Following discussions highlight the use of these materials in bioresorbable electronic components, sensors, power supplies, and in integrated diagnostic and therapeutic systems formed using specialized methods for fabrication and assembly. A concluding section summarizes opportunities for future research.

Recent Progress in Transient Energy Storage using Biodegradable Materials

With the development of wireless sensor networks, electrical waste that remains in the environment is an inevitable issue in achieving sustainability and progress in electronics. Transient electronics that disappear after a prescribed time are of interest in electronics and material sciences. Such devices comprise naturally sourced materials that degrade without harmful or toxic substances during biodegradation. Although there are reports on transient electronic devices, including transistors, sensors, and radio frequency circuits, insufficient research has been conducted on the energy storage essential for operating transient devices. This review highlights the recent progress in developing transient energy storage. First, materials for transient energy storage, including conductors, electrolytes, and gels, are introduced. Second, transient supercapacitors, pseudocapacitors, primary batteries, and secondary batteries, are described and summarized. Finally, this review concludes and discusses the prospect of transient energy storage. The continuous progress of transient batteries and integration with transient devices are promising for sustainable electronics in the future.

Fully Recyclable Liquid‐Metal‐Based Multi‐Layer Thermally Triggered Transient Electronic Devices

AbstractThe emergent transient electronics that can be destroyed or degraded harmlessly under an environmental stimulus are attracting extensive attentions toward eco‐friendly electronic devices and confidential communication applications. However, currently available transient electronics are limited by the poor recyclability of components, which fails to meet the ever‐increasing demands of advanced electronic devices. Here, this work reports a fully recyclable transient electronic device based on a multi‐layered architecture, comprising a liquid metal (LM) as the conductor and a NaOH solution‐embedded paraffin composite (NPC) as the degradation agent. Upon thermally triggered by the bottom heater, the middle‐layer LM circuit and the top NPC layer melt, releasing the aqueous alkali to destroy the circuit at a quick transient rate (46 ± 4 s). Afterward, both the free LM and paraffin are recycled at extremely high efficiencies, that is, 98% for LM owing to the self‐aggregation and fluidic nature, 95% for paraffin arising from the low melting point and good recoverability. The successful integration of transience and recycling abilities dramatically improves the feasibility of transient electronics in real applications, as further demonstrated in a radio‐frequency transmission device and a remote destructible memristor, which hold great promises for confidential data storage devices and next‐generation electronics.

Flexible Transient Resistive Memory Based on Biodegradable Composites.

Physical transient electronics have attracted more attention as the basis for building green electronics and biomedical devices. However, there are difficulties in selecting materials for the fabricated devices to take into account both biodegradability and high performance. In this paper, a physically transient resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device was fabricated by using egg protein and graphene quantum dot composites as active layers. The sandwich structure composed of Al/EA:GQD/ITO shows a good write-once-multiple-read memory characteristic, and the introduced GQD improves the switching current ratio of the device. By using the sensitivity of GQDs to ultraviolet light, the logic operation of the “OR gate” is completed. Furthermore, the device exhibits a physical transient behavior and good biodegradability due to the dissolution behavior in deionized water. These results suggest that the device is a favorable candidate for the construction of memory elements for transient electronic systems.

Heat and light triggered mechanical destruction of 2D materials based electronic devices fabricated on wax substrate

The unusual features of transient electronics to disintegrate the device after its use have gained popularity in the research community as well as in various fields which is not possible with conventional electronics. Different triggers such as solution and stimuli-based have been utilized for the dissolution or degradation of electronic devices. To date, solution-based transience has been a dominant trigger because most of the bio-materials are soluble in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. Due to this, the chemical dissolution, materials selection, devices functionalities, and configurations for the development of transient electronic devices are limited. To overcome this limitation, this report demonstrates the fabrication of electronic passive and active components with natural candelilla wax as a supporting substrate and further demonstrating the disintegration of the fabricated devices by light and heat. Further, the versatility of the fabrication process is demonstrated by patterning four different Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) on wax substrate. The various patterned devices are exposed to heat and light triggers, and the lowest degradation time of ∼30 s was achieved. The successful demonstration of wax based electronics opens up new avenues of research in transient based electronics for potential applications in security, memory, sensors, and antennas.

Water-Soluble Polythiophene-Conjugated Polyelectrolyte-Based Memristors for Transient Electronics.

The key to protect sensitive information stored in electronic memory devices from disclosure is to develop transient electronic devices that are capable of being destroyed quickly in an emergency. By using a highly water-soluble polythiophene-conjugated polyelectrolyte PTT-NMI+Br- as an active material, which was synthesized by the reaction of poly[thiophene-alt-4,4-bis(6-bromohexyl)-4H-cyclopenta(1,2-b:5,4-b')dithiophene] with N-methylimidazole, a flexible electronic device, Al/PTT-NMI+Br-/ITO-coated PET (ITO: indium tin oxide; PET: polyethylene terephthalate), is successfully fabricated. This device shows a typical nonvolatile rewritable resistive random access memory (RRAM) effect at a sweep voltage range of ±3 V and a history-dependent memristive switching performance at a small sweep voltage range of ±1 V. Both the learning/memorizing functions and the synaptic potentiation/depression of biological systems have been emulated. The switching mechanism for the PTT-NMI+Br--based electronic device may be highly associated with ion migration under bias. Once water is added to this device, it will be destructed rapidly within 20 s due to the dissolution of the active layer. This device is not only a typical transient device but can also be used for constructing conventional memristors with long-term stability after electronic packaging. Furthermore, the soluble active layer in the device can be easily recycled from its aqueous solution and reused for fabricating new transient memristors. This work offers a train of new thoughts for designing and constructing a neuromorphic computing system that can be quickly destroyed with water in the near future.

Flexible and recyclable bio-based transient resistive memory enabled by self-healing polyimine membrane

The recyclable, self-healing and easily-degradable transient electronic technology has aroused tremendous attention in flexible electronic products. However, integrating the above advantages into one single flexible electronic device is still a huge challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a flexible and recyclable bio-based memory device using fish colloid as the resistive switching layer on a polyimine substrate, which affords reliable mechanical and electrical properties under repetitive conformal deformation operation. This flexible bio-based memory device presents potential analog behaviors including memory characteristics and excitatory current response, which undergoes incremental potentiation in conductance under successive electrical pulses. Moreover, this device is expected to greatly alleviate the environmental problems caused by electronic waste. It can be decomposed rapidly in water and well recycled, which is a promising candidate for transient memories and information security. We believe that this study can provide new possibilities to the field of high-performance transient electronics and flexible resistive memory devices.

Transient Electronics as Sustainable Systems: From Fundamentals to Applications

AbstractThe unique attribute of transient technology is that it promotes the potential for the design and implementation of sustainable systems through their capability to fully or partially disintegrate after a predefined period of stable operation. Transient electronics have a wide range of potential applications as biomedical implants, environmental sensors, and hardware‐secured devices. Controlled disintegration of such systems without the need for harsh solvents is a step toward realizing green and sustainable electronics. In this short review, recent progress in the development of transient electronics is studied. First, an overview of the transient materials, both the substrate and electronic component, is described. Second, the mechanisms under which transiency occurs, including aqueous dissolution and thermal degradation, are reported. Third, manufacturing techniques for the fabrication of transient electronics are reviewed. And last, various transient electronic devices and their applications are discussed.

All‐Printed Green Micro‐Supercapacitors Based on a Natural‐derived Ionic Liquid for Flexible Transient Electronics

AbstractThe fabrication and characterization of green, flexible, and ultra‐thin supercapacitors that are able to operate above 1.5 V is reported, using an all‐printed fabrication process. The devices are produced by aqueous spray casting of a natural‐derived electrolyte ionogel composed by 2‐hydroxyethyl cellulose and by the ionic liquid choline lactate, while the electrodes are composed of highly porous nanostructured carbon films deposited by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD). The obtained supercapacitors (device thickness < 10 μm) are stable to bending and they possess power values up to 120 kW kg–1. The combination of aqueous spray casting and SCBD constitutes a versatile, scalable, and eco‐friendly fabrication process able to directly print interconnected elements suitable for transient electronic systems.

Effect of Ceramic Fillers on the Dielectric, Ferroelectric and Magnetic Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronics

Polymer nanocomposites have been investigated for their flexibility, light weight, low production cost and conformability to different shapes. In this paper, the functional properties of the polymer nanocomposites are studied by varying the ceramic fillers with bismuth ferrite, dysprosium (Dy) doped bismuth ferrite and gadolinium (Gd) doped bismuth ferrite. The developed polymer nanocomposites are seen to possess excellent magneto-dielectric behaviour, a property well-suited for developing high-frequency microwave devices. The ceramic nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using methoxy assisted sol–gel technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to crystallographic and structural characterization. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern illustrated the phase purity and crystalline phases of the nanoparticles with grain sizes ranging from 60 to 90 nm. The morphology of the nanoparticles was studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymer matrix using solution casting to form polymer-ceramic nanocomposite films. The films were subjected to broadband dielectric characterization in the X band of the frequency spectrum and films exhibited magneto-dielectric property with values of e' and µ' greater than one. The ferroelectric and ferromagnetic behaviours of the material at room temperature were studied from the PE and MH loops. Moreover, the nanocomposite films are biodegradable within a few minutes of immersion in water and can be used for transient electronics. Findings from the research can promote the invention of more materials for flexible and transient electronic devices.

Development and application of transient electronic based on degradable materials

Using degradable metals and metal oxides as electrodes or interconnecting wires, Si and SiO2 as semiconductor or dielectric layers, and degradable materials as base films or encapsulation protective layers, the physical form of transient electronic devices is partially damaged or completely disappeared by the corresponding degradation mode triggered by external stimuli, after performing specified functions or discarding them. This paper combs the practical needs of transient electronic in environmental protection, health care, information security, etc. and comprehensively analyzes the proposed process of transient electronic concepts. The current research status and development trend of Transient Electronics are discussed from three aspects: biocompatibility, full material degradation and controllable degradation. In the end, the article looks forward to the future development and application prospects of transient electronic.

Non-contact, controlled and moisture triggered black phosphorus quantum dots/PVA film for transient electronics applications

The report demonstrates non-contact, controlled, Black Phosphorus (BP) Quantum Dots (QDs)/PVA film based transient electronic devices which does not require resorption solutions or biofluids. The unique transience of BPQDs/PVA film is triggered with moisture at various temperatures and it completely degrades in the air in less than 12 min.

Preparation of transient electronic devices with silk fibroin film as a flexible substrate

Flexible transient electronic devices have great potential applications in medical care and wearable device field. Herein, silk fibroin, a natural protein, was applied as biocompatible and biodegradable building blocks to construct transparent film with extraordinary mechanical property. During the preparation of film, conductive Ag nanowires have been introduced into the film through a patterned “casting” strategy, endowing the film with good conductivity. The silk fibroin film with patterned Ag nanowires is certified to be an effective and stable interdigital capacitive sensor in normal environment, but can dissolve immediately within water in one minute. The method proposed here is simple, facile and low cost, and will promote the development and application of transient electronics in security of information and wearable device fields.

Active Transiency: A Novel Approach to Expedite Degradation in Transient Electronics.

Transient materials/electronics is an emerging class of technology concerned with materials and devices that are designed to operate over a pre-defined period of time, then undergo controlled degradation when exposed to stimuli. Degradation/transiency rate in solvent-triggered devices is strongly dependent on the chemical composition of the constituents, as well as their interactions with the solvent upon exposure. Such interactions are typically slow, passive, and diffusion-driven. In this study, we are introducing and exploring the integration of gas-forming reactions into transient materials/electronics to achieve expedited and active transiency. The integration of more complex chemical reaction paths to transiency not only expedites the dissolution mechanism but also maintains the pre-transiency stability of the system while under operation. A proof-of-concept transient electronic device, utilizing sodium-bicarbonate/citric-acid pair as gas-forming agents, is demonstrated and studied vs. control devices in the absence of gas-forming agents. While exhibiting enhanced transiency behavior, substrates with gas-forming agents also demonstrated sufficient mechanical properties and physical stability to be used as platforms for electronics.

The emergence of transient electronic devices

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Inorganic materials for transient electronics in biomedical applications

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Advanced manufacturing for transient electronics

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