Flexible Nanoelectronics
Future electronics will be smart, flexible, bendable, made from sustainable, not-toxic materials and will be easy to recycle. We use nanotechnology and draw inspiration from nature to make, for example, electronic memories that mimic the efficiency of the human brain, and batteries that are made from cellulose, the main component of plant cells. We will explain how nanotechnology is used to fabricate billions of electronic components on a single chip - also on flexible substrates! Then we will show you how to create tiny nanogaps between metals. You will use a model of these (magnified) nanogaps to place molecules and form a memory device that can store information. You will write and erase the information in this memory device yourself! Finally, we will showcase how a common Lithium-ion battery charges and discharges and will explain all about the new generation of nature-inspired batteries that we fabricate. These batteries are made from non-toxic materials, are recyclable and safe to use, and can be bent to work under flex conditions. You will also have the chance to make your own battery model!