Curved nanochannels allow independent tuning of charge and spin currents

To increase the efficiency of microchips, 3D structures are now being investigated. However, spintronic components, which rely on electron spin rather than charge, are always flat. To investigate how to connect these to 3D electronics, physicists have created curved spin transport channels. They discovered that this new geometry makes it possible to independently tune charge and spin currents.

Borophene on silver grows freely into an atomic 'skin'

Borophene has a nearly perfect partner in a form of silver that could help the trendy two-dimensional material grow to unheard-of lengths.

Helping tobacco plants save water

Biologists have used bioelectronics to influence transpiration in a tobacco plant, without harming the plant in any way.

Portable electronics: A stretchable and flexible biofuel cell that runs on sweat

A unique new flexible and stretchable device, worn against the skin and capable of producing electrical energy by transforming the compounds present in sweat, was recently developed and patented. This cell is already capable of continuously lighting an LED, opening new avenues for the development of wearable electronics powered by autonomous and environmentally friendly biodevices.

New way to produce curvy electronics

Contact lenses that can monitor your health as well as correct your eyesight aren't science fiction, but an efficient manufacturing method has remained elusive. Until now. Researchers have reported developing a new manufacturing method to produce the lenses, solar cells and other three-dimensional curvy electronics.

Bottom-up synthesis of crystalline 2D polymers

Scientists have succeeded in synthesizing sheet-like 2D polymers by a bottom-up process for the first time. A novel synthetic reaction route was developed for this purpose. The 2D polymers consist of only a few single atomic layers and, due to their very special properties, are a promising material for use in future electronic components.

The tale of the “damaged” chip

Ok, I’ve been away from electronics for too long.

I haven’t been able to get my hands dirty and build circuits for a while.

But last week I sat down to build some circuits for the 555 Timer course.

I hooked up the most simple circuit (a blinking LED), but it wouldn’t blink!

I checked my connections, measured all the components, replaced the battery, replaced the breadboard – basically everything I could come up with. But still nothing.

The chip must be broken, I thought. So the next day I went to a local electronics supplier and bought three new 555 chips.

Replaced the chip… Still nothing.

I could not make the thing blink!

Finally, I put my ego aside and typed into google “555 circuit not working”. I read through a few forum posts until I saw this message by a man with the same problem:

“Well I’m a total fool. I read the pinout wrong. Working fine now.”

So I looked down on my circuit. Turns out I’ve done the same thing! I read the pinout wrong!

(Facepalm)

Well, all good now. I built a lot of fun circuits with the 555 timer. And finished up the course. If you’re already a member, you’ll find it in the Trainings Library when you log in.

Not a member? Join here:
https://ohmify.com/join/

Keep On Soldering!
Oyvind @ build-electronic-circuits.com

Copyright Build Electronic Circuits

Researchers can now place single ions into solids

New technique enables implantation of individual ions into crystals with an accuracy of 35 nanometers.

Using light to speed up computation

Researchers have developed a type of processor called PAXEL, a device that can potentially bypass Moore's Law and increase the speed and efficiency of computing. Researchers looked at using light for the data transport step in integrated circuits, since photons are not subject to Moore's Law. Instead of integrated electronic circuits, much new development now involves photonic integrated circuits. The PAXEL accelerator takes this approach and uses power-efficient nanophotonics.

Battery with a twist

A team of researchers has used stretchable materials to develop a battery that can be bent, stretched and twisted. For applications in bendable electronic devices, this is precisely the kind of battery they need.

Up-close and personal with neuronal networks

Researchers have developed an electronic chip that can perform high-sensitivity intracellular recording from thousands of connected neurons simultaneously. This breakthrough allowed them to map synaptic connectivity at an unprecedented level, identifying hundreds of synaptic connections.

The best of two worlds: Magnetism and Weyl semimetals

Imagine a world in which electricity could flow through the grid without any losses or where all the data in the world could be stored in the cloud without the need for power stations. This seems unimaginable but a path towards such a dream has opened with the discovery of a new family of materials with magical properties.

Clarification of a new synthesis mechanism of semiconductor atomic sheet

Researchers have succeeded in clarifying a new synthesis mechanism regarding transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), which are semiconductor atomic sheets having thickness in atomic order. Because it is difficult to directly observe the aspect of the growing process of TMD in a special environment, the initial growth process remained unclear, and it has been desirable to elucidate a detailed mechanism of synthesis to obtain high-quality TMD.

Scientists create fully electronic 2-dimensional spin transistors

Physicists have constructed a two-dimensional spin transistor, in which spin currents were generated by an electric current through graphene. A monolayer of a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) was placed on top of graphene to induce charge-to-spin conversion in the graphene.

Chemists uncover a mechanism behind doping organic semiconductors

Semiconductors -- and our mastery of them -- have enabled us to develop the technology that underpins our modern society. These devices are responsible for a wide range of electronics, including circuit boards, computer chips and sensors.

Light and sound in silicon chips: The slower the better

Acoustics is a missing dimension in silicon chips because acoustics can complete specific tasks that are difficult to do with electronics and optics alone. For the first time researchers have added this dimension to the standard silicon photonics platform. The concept combines the communication and bandwidth offered by light with the selective processing of sound waves.

Engineers' new topological insulator reroutes photonic 'traffic' on the fly

Photonic chips promise even faster data transfer speeds and information-dense applications, but the components necessary for building them remain considerably larger than their electronic counterparts, due to the lack of efficient data-routing architecture. A photonic topological insulator with edges that can be dynamically redefined, however, would help solve this problem. Being able to route these 'roads' around one another as needed means the entire interior bulk could be used to efficiently build data links.

Spin devices get a paint job

Physicists created a new way to fabricate special kinds of electronic components known as spintronic devices. These high-performance, low-power devices have a promising future, so efficient ways to make them are highly sought after. The new fabrication method is interesting because it uses organic molecules which are relatively easy to configure for different purposes. Layers of molecules could be painted or printed onto metals to create new electronic functions.

Reconfigurable electronics show promise for wearable, implantable devices

Medical implants of the future may feature reconfigurable electronic platforms that can morph in shape and size dynamically as bodies change or transform to relocate from one area to monitor another within our bodies. Researchers report on a silicon honeycomb-serpentine reconfigurable electronic platform that can dynamically morph into three different shapes: quatrefoils (four lobes), stars and irregular ones.

Future of portable electronics -- Novel organic semiconductor with exciting properties

Organic semiconductors have advantages over inorganic semiconductors in several areas. However, there are only a few known organic n-type semiconductors, and even they have certain drawbacks such as instability and insolubility in organic solvents. Now, scientists report on the production of a novel organic substance with potential applications as an n-type semiconductor.

Reconfigurable electronics show promise for wearable, implantable devices

Medical implants of the future may feature reconfigurable electronic platforms that can morph in shape and size dynamically as bodies change or transform to relocate from one area to monitor another within our bodies. A group of researchers reports a silicon honeycomb-serpentine reconfigurable electronic platform that can dynamically morph into three different shapes: quatrefoils (four lobes), stars and irregular ones.

Stretchy plastic electrolytes could enable new lithium-ion battery design

Researchers have developed a promising new cathode and electrolyte system that replaces expensive metals and traditional liquid electrolyte with lower cost transition metal fluorides and a solid polymer electrolyte.

Are you frustrated learning electronics?

Using nature to produce a revolutionary optical material

An international team of researchers has reported a new way to safeguard drones, surveillance cameras and other equipment against laser attacks, which can disable or destroy the equipment.

Electronic glove offers 'humanlike' features for prosthetic hand users

An electronic glove, or e-glove, developed by researchers can be worn over a prosthetic hand to provide human-like softness, warmth, appearance and sensory perception, such as the ability to sense pressure, temperature and hydration.