BIODEGRADABLE ELECTRONICS THAT DISSOLVE IN WATER

SINTEF Working on Eco-Friendly Electronics That Disappear When No Longer Needed

Researchers at Norwegian research institute SINTEF working on the creation of biodegradable electronic components, have produced demonstration models. The water-soluble components contain remarkably thin circuits, barely a few nanometers thick, which are used to transfer energy. The electronic units are made up of magnesium, silicon, or silicon with a magnesium additive and are printed on a silicon wafer.

One of the chief hurdles to creating a reliable end product is the need for a protective coating for the circuits. The circuits will begin to degrade once external fluids reach the inside of the unit. This protective coating will have a short to medium life, as it is only required up until the point the circuits are in use.The SINTEF team outlined an example of a circuit bundle created to be operated in seawater and equipped with sensors for measuring oil spills. The coating must be durable enough to last submerged in water for several weeks while the measurements are being gathered.

Speaking on the Institute’s initiative, Karsten Husby, a researcher at SINTEF’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) division said, “Our project is now in its second year, but we’ll need a partner active in the industry and more funding in the years ahead if we’re to meet our objectives. There’s no doubt that eco-friendly electronics is a field that will come into its own, also here in Norway.”