Paper, being a light and foldable raw material, is a cost-efficient and simple means of generating electrically conducting structures
Paper is becoming a high-tech material. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm have created targeted conductive structures on paper using a method that is quite simple: with a conventional inkjet printer, they printed a catalyst on a sheet of paper and then heated it. The printed areas on the paper were thereby converted into conductive graphite. Being an inexpensive, light and flexible raw material, paper is therefore highly suitable for electronic components in everyday objects.
Cost-efficient and flexible microchips are opening up applications in the electronics sector for which silicon chips are too expensive or difficult to make, and for which RFID chips, now available on a widespread basis, simply do not suffice: clothes, for instance, that monitor bodily functions, flexible screens, or labels that give more information about a product then can be printed on the packaging.
Although many scientists around the world are successfully developing flexible chips, they have been forced to almost always rely on plastics as the carrier and, in some cases, use polymers and other organic molecules as conductive components. These materials may meet many requirements; however, they are all, without exception, sensitive to heat. “Their processing cannot be integrated into the usual production of electronics, because temperatures in production can reach over 400 degrees Celsius,” says Cristina Giordano, who leads a working group at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and as now come up with an alternative solution.
Paper electronics enables three-dimensional conductive structures
Carbon electronics, which Giordano and her colleagues create from paper, can withstand temperatures of around 800 degrees Celsius during production in an oxygen-free environment, and would not have a negative impact on established processes. And that is not the only trump card of paper-based electronics. The light and inexpensive material can be processed very easily, even into three-dimensional conductive structures.
The Potsdam-based researchers convert the cellulose of the paper into graphite with iron nitrate serving as the catalyst. “Using a commercial inkjet printer, we print a solution of the catalyst in a fine pattern on a sheet of paper,” says Stefan Glatzel, who is responsible for bringing electronics to paper in his doctoral thesis. If the researchers then heat the sheets that were printed with a catalyst to 800 degrees Celsius in a nitrogen atmosphere, the cellulose will continue to release water until all that remains is pure carbon. Whereas an electrically conducting mixture of regularly structured carbon sheets of graphite and iron carbide forms in the printed areas, the non-printed areas are left behind as carbon without a regular structure, and they are less conductive.
That actual, precisely formed conducting paths are created in this way was demonstrated by the researchers in a simple experiment: First, they printed the catalyst on a sheet of paper in the pattern of Minerva, the subtle symbol of the Max Planck Society. The printed pattern was then converted into graphite. They then used the graphite Minerva as a cathode, which was electrolytically coated with copper. The metal was only deposited on the lines sketched by the printer.
An origami crane dressed in copper
In another experiment, the team in Potsdam demonstrated how three-dimensional, conductive structures can be created using their method. For this experiment, the team folded a sheet of paper into an origami crane. This was then immersed in the catalyst and baked into graphite. “The three-dimensional form was completely retained, but consisted entirely of conductive carbon after the process,” says Stefan Glatzel. He demonstrated this again by electrolytically coating the origami bird with copper. The entire crane subsequently had a copper sheen.
The Latest Bing News on:
Paper based electronics
- Demat Account: What is electronic voting and how does it work? MintGenie explainson May 8, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Electronic voting allows shareholders to cast votes electronically, increasing convenience and reducing costs. Shareholders receive notification of proposed resolutions and can cast their votes ...
- Materials And Technologies For High Temperature, Resilient Electronicson May 7, 2024 at 4:38 pm
A technical paper titled “Materials for High Temperature Digital Electronics” was published by researchers at University of Pennsylvania, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Ozark Integrated Circuits.
- Art Bites: How a $20-Million Art Sale Was Won in a Game of Rock Paper Scissorson May 6, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Christie's vied to sell the European art collection of a Japanese electronics firm. To win, they had to play rock, paper, scissors.
- Unlocking untapped potential of electronic records and signatureson May 5, 2024 at 10:55 am
In the digital age, the adoption of electronic records and electronic signatures presents a golden opportunity for Bangladesh to revolutionise its administrative, commercial, and societal landscapes.
- PM Modi's political history based on 'Hindu-Muslim dispute': Digvijayaon May 5, 2024 at 6:16 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political history is based on the "Hindu-Muslim dispute" and he should do some soul-searching as to who is benefiting from it, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has ...
- Electronic Flight Bag Market Size To Touch USD 4.42 Billion, Rising At A CAGR Of 6.5% By 2030: SNS Insideron May 5, 2024 at 6:10 am
( MENAFN - Evertise Digital) - The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Market , valued at USD 2.67 billion in 2022, is projected to reach USD 4.42 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to ...
- A gritty venue, electronic dance music, immersive art... and the Charlotte Symphony?on May 1, 2024 at 3:06 am
It’s called “ MERGE: Symphonic x Electronic ,” a multi-sensory experience that combines classical repertoire, electronic dance music and immersive visuals. It’s the first in a series of forays into ...
- Bacteria 'nanowires' could help develop green electronicson April 29, 2024 at 7:30 am
Engineered protein filaments originally produced by bacteria have been modified by scientists to conduct electricity. In a study published recently in the journal Small, researchers revealed that ...
- Value addition in electronics needs to double: Meity Secyon April 27, 2024 at 3:44 pm
Chennai: The value addition in electronics manufacturing in the country needs to double from 18%-20% at present to 40% and component making should be .
- Richmond to hold recycling event for paper, electronics and hazardous wasteon April 26, 2024 at 9:02 am
The City of Richmond will offer residents an efficient option to recycle papers, electronics and household hazardous waste items.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Paper based electronics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”paper based electronics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Paper electronics
- Materials And Technologies For High Temperature, Resilient Electronicson May 7, 2024 at 4:38 pm
A technical paper titled “Materials for High Temperature Digital Electronics” was published by researchers at University of Pennsylvania, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Ozark Integrated Circuits.
- Art Bites: How a $20-Million Art Sale Was Won in a Game of Rock Paper Scissorson May 6, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Christie's vied to sell the European art collection of a Japanese electronics firm. To win, they had to play rock, paper, scissors.
- Cleaning Electronicson May 6, 2024 at 2:20 pm
A clean and tidy home is one thing. But these days, more and more of your furniture and other items require a power connection to create the smart home of your dreams. Keeping your electronics ...
- How much is my EE bond worth? Calculating the value of your savings bondon April 30, 2024 at 3:21 am
You can cash in a Series EE bond after one year. The method for checking your bond’s value depends on if it is electronic or paper. When it comes to safe places to hold your money, few options ...
- Safely destroy electronic data at SHRED-A-THON 2024on April 29, 2024 at 3:57 pm
It’s a chance to get rid of old documents and electronics—safely—before they get in the wrong hands and potentially lead to identity theft.
- An electronic court system could happen in two Triad counties soonon April 29, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Right now, there are 17 counties in North Carolina using eCourts or electronic court documents. After April 29, Guilford and Alamance Counties, alongside eight other counties will be making the switch ...
- Sen. Griffo Holds Electronics Recycling Event for Earth Weekon April 28, 2024 at 5:47 am
UTICA, N.Y. -- New York State Senator Joseph Griffo (R, 53rd Senate District) partnered with multiple organizations for a yearly electronics recycling event. At the Oneida-Herkimer Recycling Center in ...
- Richmond to hold recycling event for paper, electronics and hazardous wasteon April 26, 2024 at 9:02 am
The City of Richmond will offer residents an efficient option to recycle papers, electronics and household hazardous waste items.
- Electronic records add more CO2 than paper: Studyon April 25, 2024 at 9:02 pm
Aravind Eye Hospital study in Puducherry reveals electronic medical records emit more CO2 than paper versions, except when powered by renewables like ...
- Sharp set to unveil innovative e-paper solutions at Touch Taiwan 2024on April 25, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Sharp, together with its partners Yuantai and Chengmei Materials is all set to showcase a series of e-paper solutions at the Touch Taiwan 2024 event, Yahoo News reported. The company said it will be ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Paper electronics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”paper electronics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]