SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the biodegradable-chips-give-new-meaning-to-"computer-virus" dept.
Technicians from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), have demonstrated the feasibility of replacing the substrate of a computer chip with cellulose nanofibril (CNF), a flexible, biodegradable material made from wood.
The full paper is available. From the abstract:
Today's consumer electronics, such as cell phones, tablets and other portable electronic devices, are typically made of non-renewable, non-biodegradable, and sometimes potentially toxic (for example, gallium arsenide) materials. These consumer electronics are frequently upgraded or discarded, leading to serious environmental contamination. Thus, electronic systems consisting of renewable and biodegradable materials and minimal amount of potentially toxic materials are desirable. Here we report high-performance flexible microwave and digital electronics that consume the smallest amount of potentially toxic materials on biobased, biodegradable and flexible cellulose nanofibril papers. Furthermore, we demonstrate gallium arsenide microwave devices, the consumer wireless workhorse, in a transferrable[sic] thin-film form. Successful fabrication of key electrical components on the flexible cellulose nanofibril paper with comparable performance to their rigid counterparts and clear demonstration of fungal biodegradation of the cellulose-nanofibril-based electronics suggest that it is feasible to fabricate high-performance flexible electronics using ecofriendly materials.
[Editor's Comment: Original Submission]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by frojack on Thursday May 28 2015, @06:44PM
Basically they are saying this allows them to design electrical components that break down over time, or the first time they get wet.
They make that sound like a good thing.
They cite gallium arsenide content in electronic devices. But gallium arsenide in electronic devices is tightly bound, and presents no risk, as it does not leach out. All the risk lies in the manufacturing phases, mostly do to particle inhalation. (And data about that is far from conclusive [nih.gov]).
Then they go on to say that they "demonstrate gallium arsenide microwave devices" on a "fungal biodegradation of the cellulose-nanofibril-base", which means it breaks down, probably with the mere addition of water (since they are talking about cellulose nonofibril: translation: Paper).
So rather than a tightly bound, encased in plastic gallium arsenide chips, they have embedded them in high-tech paper mache. How can this be better?
Haven't they just introduced a source of uncontrolled particulates?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2, Funny) by KGIII on Thursday May 28 2015, @06:56PM
I personally wonder if this means that overclocking will really set your CPU on fire.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
(Score: 3, Informative) by sudo rm -rf on Friday May 29 2015, @12:00PM
I personally wonder if this means that overclocking will really set your CPU on fire.
You may be joking, but seriously, paper has *bad* thermal conductivity. On the other hand Jung said "I've made 1,500 gallium arsenide transistors in a 5-by-6 millimeter chip. Typically for a microwave chip that size, there are only eight to 40 transistors", so those chips will not replace most of the CPUs any time soon.
(Score: 3, Informative) by sudo rm -rf on Friday May 29 2015, @11:52AM
...break down over time, or the first time they get wet
They seem to have considered at least the moisture problem:
TFA:
"Wood is naturally a hygroscopic material and could attract moisture from the air and expand. However, researchers manufactured a special epoxy coating on the surface of the CNF which dealt with concerns about both surface smoothness and moisture."
(Score: 2) by hubie on Friday May 29 2015, @06:53PM
I could see this being worked into throwaway items such as greeting cards, business cards, cereal boxes, etc.