Sometimes innovation comes from a simple coincidence. Here’s what MIT researchers are doing with polymer filaments rich in copper nanoparticlesDiscovered while 3D printing magnetic coils. They observed an unexpected property of the material: it was very resistant to electric current and, once the current was interrupted, it returned to its original state. Why is this important? This property makes it possible to design transistors that can act as switches. MIT researchers have set a new goal: to develop the first fully 3D-printed solid-state and solid-state logic gate, as well as a similarly 3D-printed resettable fuse. The results published last July confirmed their success.
Logic gates are the basic components of digital circuits. Typically, these devices rely on semiconductors, often based on silicon or other materials, whose electrical properties can be adjusted. For example, silicon can be modified to create conductive or insulating regions, making it ideal for making transistors, a key part of modern electronics. It is important to note, however, that semiconductor devices are not always readily available because their production requires specialized facilities.The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted this vulnerability, with shortages in semiconductor manufacturing hubs leading to shortages of many electronic products.
Visualization of a 3D printed device and its thermal conductivity (Image source: MIT)
The possibility of manufacturing logic gates without using semiconductors opens new perspectives for electronic production on a local scale. Although the idea is still far from being applied, MIT researchers have3D printing the switches of these logic gates is a crucial step. This manufacturing process has proven to be more energy efficient and generates less waste than traditional semiconductor production, primarily due to the use of standard 3D printing hardware and copper-doped polymers, which are at both inexpensive and biodegradable.
MIT researchers tested a variety of3D printed filaments, including carbon-doped polymers, carbon nanotubes and graphene, had no effect. According to an MIT article on their work, “[研究人员]It is assumed that the copper nanoparticles present in the material are dispersed by the heat generated by the electric current, causing an increase in resistance, which decreases again when the material cools and the copper particles clump together again. They also believe that the material’s polymer matrix changes from crystalline to amorphous with heat, then returns to a crystalline state once cooled.
MIT Microsystems Technology LaboratoryLuis Fernando Velásquez-García, principal investigator at MTL (MTL) and lead author of the study describing these devices, notes that more research is needed to understand why copper-doped polymers react in this way. Although the device is not as powerful as a silicon transistor, it is still capable of performing simple control functions, such as turning a motor on and off. Additionally, after 4,000 tests, the transistors showed no signs of degradation.
Will 3D printed electronics see the light of day again in the future?
“This technology has real advantages,” Velásquez-García said. “Even if we cannot compete with silicon as a semiconductor, our goal is not necessarily to replace existing technologies but to explore new possibilities with 3D printing. In short, it’s really about democratizing technology that gives everyone access to smart devices. can be manufactured anywhere, even far from traditional production centers »
In a paper published in the journal Virtual and Physical Prototyping, the researchers noted that“The customization and accessibility inherent in additive manufacturing through material extrusion makes this technology potentially revolutionary. » Their study concludes: “This work represents a step toward democratizing the manufacturing of electronic devices without semiconductors and generates immediate interest in the creation of intelligent and personalized devices. , even far from traditional production centers.
MIT announced that in the near future, researchers plan to use this technology to print fully functional electronic components. Currently they aim to use onlyFDM 3D printing to design the magneto. Additionally, they hope to improve the process to create more complex circuits and explore the performance limits of these devices.
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