What kind of electronic device could one day be placed beneath the skin's surface and gradually disappear once it's no longer needed?

Transient electronics physically vanish over time. Photo courtesy John Rogers/Northwestern University.

October 1, 2012 By News Staff

Answer: transient electronics

A team of researchers from Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Tufts University are the first to demonstrate “transient electronics” -- electronics that gradually disappear on a specified schedule, whether it be a few days or six months, Northwestern University reported.

While conventional electronics are made to last indefinitely, transient electronics physically vanish over time in a well-controlled manner and at a prescribed time, dissolving when they react with water. A magnesium oxide encapsulation layer and silk overcoat envelops the electronics, and the thickness determines how long the system will take to disappear into its environment.

Transient electronics could have applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, environmental monitors and the military, among other uses.

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