—Transplanted neurons could heal injuries, restore sight “Embryonic neurons transplanted in mice with damaged visual cortices could integrate into neural networks” When neurons die, they cannot be repaired—but perhaps they can be replaced. The idea of transplanting cells into injured brains has shown promise in the clinic.
by Sarah Everts | October 31, 2016
—Mixing semiconductors could lead to 6G wireless devices “Bonding III–V circuits to silicon provides high-frequency performance potentially useful for next-gen connectivity” Sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology will need to use high radio frequencies to achieve the necessary high data transmission rates. To get there, scientists in South Korea tried stacking circuits made with two types of materials, which resulted in a layered device with record-high radio-frequency performance (ACS Nano 2022, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00334). Semiconducting silicon has never been beaten for low cost and ease of fabrication, but it’s difficult to coax silicon circuits into reaching high radio frequencies.
by Neil Savage, special to C&EN | May 26, 2022
The team first used standard clean-room techniques—including photolithography, metal sputtering, and atomic layer deposition—to create data storage circuits from zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, and silicon. Similar techniques yielded separate aluminum-based electronics to act as sensors for humidity or pressure. Making all these circuits microscopically thin ensured they would be flexible, but also fragile. To address this frailty, the team turned to a less mature technology. A commercial 3-D printer created flexible and custom-shaped polylactic acid enclosures to protect a sticker’s electronics. The researchers also “printed” additional wires to complete electrical connections with an ink-jet printer and a conductive silver ink.
by Matt Davenport | October 18, 2016
The team tested the material by depositing a layer of polymer on the surface of an integrated circuit and then using an optical fiber to excite the layer and detect the emission spectrum. In this way, the researchers were able to map out the hotter and cooler portions of the circuit. Palacio believes the nanoparticle's luminescent properties coupled with its magnetic properties will be ideal for noninvasive diagnostic testing, such as mapping tumors via their cellular temperature distributions or tracking biochemical processes occurring within cells.
by Stephen K. Ritter | October 25, 2010
Kilby, who will receive half of the more than $900,000 prize, is recognized as a pioneer in the development of the mother of all information technology, the integrated circuit. Integrated circuits are fixed arrangements of electronic components fabricated in or on silicon chips and have proved to be a boon to engineers, miniaturizing circuits that previously had consisted of unwieldy vacuum tubes. Kilby and his colleagues went on to prove the usefulness of integrated circuits by inventing the pocket calculator. Kilby was born in Jefferson City, Mo., in 1923. He received a B.S. degree in 1947 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an M.S. degree in 1950 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, both in electrical engineering. He joined Globe Union Inc. in Milwaukee, where he developed ceramic-based silk-screen circuits. Kilby moved to Texas Instruments in 1958--the year he developed his first integrated circuit. He stayed at Texas Instruments until his retirement in 1983, and also was a professor at Texas A&M University from 1978 until 1985.
by Elizabeth Wilson | October 16, 2000