MIT researchers have revolutionized electronics with the development of active electronic components, including transistors, 3D printed without semiconductors. The implications are tremendous in redesigning the electronics industry to make the design and production of electronic devices easier and more affordable.
Researchers at MIT were astonished when they found that they could 3D print active electronics using readily available materials, which circumvented the complex, expensive semiconductor manufacturing processes dominating the industry currently.
The significance of this discovery lies in its promise to decentralize and democratize electronics making. While traditionally, electronic components like transistors are made using expensive semiconductor materials, clean rooms, and other fabrication processes, this new technique would allow electronic circuits to be made using far less complex 3D printers, thus dramatically lowering the barriers to entry for electronics manufacturing.
Such work opens up the possibility of new development in domains such as IoT. Custom-built small electronics are always needed in applications, and engineers and innovators no longer have to wait for a phase of large-scale manufacturing before bringing products to market. They can now potentially 3D print their electronics, which accelerates the process of developing devices and applications altogether.
Although it is still in its early stage of development, it has already shown its utility in the printing of basic electronic circuits. Future steps include improvements in the process to lead to more complex and resilient devices. It does represent a major step forward in the continuous efforts toward making manufacturing more feasible, sustainable, and versatile.
