Slashdot Mirror
The First Paper-Based Transistors
Roland Piquepaille found news of research out of Portugal that has resulted in the first paper-based transistors (the original article is less informative than Roland's blog). More precisely, they've made the first field effect transistors (FET) with a paper interstrate layer. According to the research team, such transistors offer the same level of performance as 'state-of-the-art, oxide-based thin film transistors produced on glass or crystalline silicon substrates.' Possible applications include disposable electronics devices, such as paper displays, smart labels, bio-applications or RFID tags. The research will be published in IEEE Electron Device Letters in September.
Coming soon, the 5 MHz toilet paper.
Full Tilt
Maybe they could go with paper batteries? Google "paper batteries" for a hundred other links to the same and related stories/technologies.
A-Bomb
There was an article published many years ago in an Australian electronics magazine which described 'printegrated circuits'.
I forget which year it was, but it was the April issue.
Finally, an origrami computer that might be useful!
The INTERSTRATE layer is paper now. In a normal FET, the whole thing has a doped silicon substrate functioning as the grid and body, with a (say) metal oxide semiconductor in between as an insulator (interstrate) (MOSFET). They replaced the MOS with paper. It's still a hunk of silicon.
Support my political activism on Patreon.
... I wonder what static electricity will do to these paper FETs.
TOP DSLR Cameras Reviews of the top DSLRs
I'd imagine there's have to be some way of sealing these to prevent moisture and humidity from affecting them. It'd be nice if the sealing compound was biodegradable, too... at least to a lesser extent than the paper. Wax, perhaps?
What they really need to do is use something very common; like, I don't know, sand. That's assuming they can come up with the technology. I know, I know. I'm dreaming.
"no, I am a genuine 5$ bill!"
"I will not display the next page of the book until you watch this advert in full"
paper airplane, and UAV in one
smart toilet paper (ugh!)
Q's wet dream
interactive wall paper
disposable smart ID badges
party hats with a difference..
"I am your tenth cigarette this hour!"
any more? can anybody think of sinister possible uses?
to make sure the circuit never reaches 451F
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Great. Now a ream of paper will have RFID in every sheet. How am I going to print all my Revolution flyers?
some other inventions from portugal:
- convertible submarine
- windshield wipers (americans improved them by placing them on the outside)
- helicopter with ejector seat
- solar powered flashlight
.
.
.
ok, i confess. i'm brasilian. couldn't resist joking, mod me down at will
What ? Me, worry ?
...this research isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
The same research team also said they would be releasing a CPU (codenamed "Origami") based on these transistors. It's optimised for F@H.
Prediction: American, paper-based computers will be printed on Letter paper, but European computers will use A4 paper, thus leading to worldwide incompatibilities.
The first transistors on paper have been published in 2005:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7387872.html
There is also a paper by the same authors, which I can not find right now.
Print smart money,
Surely the real news is that Roland actually added correct content to an article rather than simply copied some pieces and made an inflammatory, catchy /. submission to get more hits on his "make money fast by blogging" blog?
I think it will take more than one or two decent submission to redeem himself of all the crap submissions that caused all the agitation for the ability to filter posts by submitter and the creation of firefox add-ons specifically for filtering him.
But soon the paper will analyze the cocaine as you snort it and if it really good maybe make a phone call or two. Hundred dollar bills phoning home when they are in large stacks... Faraday cage wallets will really be needed then...
Two twenty's meet in a bar, first twenty says to the second one "I'm from a bank heist last week... waiting for a good signal so I can report myself"
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
Paper is an interesting substrate, because it's cheap, but also because it's a renewable resource. It literally grows on trees. It's an interesting development because it's carbon, not a silicon material. It's not even made from plastic, which we have to make from oil. Which means that it could be made from the extra pollution we suck out of the air - the old fashioned way: growing it in the ground.
What will be really interesting is if we can match that innovation by printing organic inks onto the paper to make the rest of the transistors. Carbon based "wires" on the substrate. Preferably grown from plants (or algae - I'm not picky). See if we can't grow our microelectronics, rather than manufacture it, and cut out most of the waste and pollution, while perhaps making fairly durable objects that can be easily recycled into the environment by just burying them in soil. Atop which we grow the next generation.
--
make install -not war