What if your computer could fix itself? A new study has shown that by using nanomotors, electronics may be able to fix itself.
Scientists have looked to the body's immune system for inspiration and have now built self-propelled nanomotors that can search for and repair minor scratches in electronic systems. They could one day lead to flexible batteries, electrodes, solar panels and other devices that repair themselves.
Researcher Jinksing Lee of the University of California says that electronic circuits are very complex these days, but a crack, even a very small crack, can interrupt the flow of current and eventually damage the device. Traditional electronics can be soldered, but repairing modern electronics at the nanoscale requires innovation.
Gadgets will soon be more ubiquitous than ever, appearing in our clothing, implants and accessories. But finding ways to fix nanocircuits, battery electrodes, or other electronic components if they fail remains a challenge.
The team designed and built nanoparticles of gold and platinum that are powered by hydrogen peroxide. Platinum stimulates the fuel to break down into water and oxygen, which propels the particles. Testing has shown that the nanomotors move over the surface of a broken electronic circuit connected to an LED. When they approach the scratch, they are loaded into it and are bridged between the two sides. Since the particles are made of conductive metals, they allow current to flow again and the LED will glow again.
Li said nanomotors would be ideal for hard-to-repair electronic components, such as the conductive layer of solar cells, that are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and prone to scratches. They can also be used to repair flexible sensors and batteries, which are also being developed at Wang's lab.
In addition, the same concept with different materials and fuels can be used in medicine to deliver drugs to specific locations. The lab is also developing new nanomotors that could potentially be used in the body to treat various diseases, such as stomach infections.
Research presented at American Chemical Society 251st National Meeting & Exposition
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