https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/semiconductors-news/ en-us The latest news on electronics and semiconductor technology developments Both image photodetector arrays and retinas are pixelated sensors that dynamically extract various features from the visual scene—e.g., color, brightness, and contrast—before transmitting electrical signals to either a graphical interface of a display or the brain. Image sensors rely on solid state semiconductor technology, whereas retinas rely on photoreceptor cells in water-based ionic environments. A multidisciplinary team of researchers has now developed an innovative image sensor that integrates liquid biological environments with organic electronics, mimicking core functions of the animal retina. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-biohybrid-image-sensor-based-electrolyte.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:20:05 EDT news692438221 Researchers at Tohoku University, working with international collaborators in France, have developed an ultrafine "soft yarn" actuator fiber capable of bending, contracting, and producing complex three-dimensional movements when electricity is applied. The technology offers a new pathway for building safer soft robots and body-conforming wearable devices designed to interact closely with people. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-hair-thin-soft-yarn-actuator.html Engineering Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:00:06 EDT news692376301 Tiny electronic devices, called microelectronics, may one day be printed as easily as words on a page, thanks to new research from scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. Building on years of progress in printed electronics, the team has shown how to create durable, low-power electronic switches, called transistors, by combining custom inks and a specialized printing process. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-aerosol-jet-durable-power-transistors.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:00:04 EDT news692362457 Making computer chips smaller is not just about better design. It also depends on a critical step in manufacturing called patterning, where nanoscale structures are carved into materials to form the circuits inside everything from smartphones to advanced sensors. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-atom-thin-material-chip-problem.html Engineering Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:40:01 EDT news692353049 You're probably used to the sight of smartwatches on people's wrists. But what about smart clothes? Researchers at the University of Georgia are exploring how the clothes people wear can potentially track and protect their health. Smart textiles are fabrics that can monitor the body's vitals and movement in real time. They're flexible and lightweight, making them more comfortable to wear while moving. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-smarter.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:20:03 EST news692015804 The semiconductor chips driving modern-day computer processors are covered in billions of individual transistors, each of which can overheat under stress, causing steep drops in performance. To address this, a team led by researchers at Penn State has developed a microscopic thermometer, smaller than an ant's antenna, that can be integrated onto a chip to accurately track temperatures. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-tiny-thermometers-chip-temperature-processors.html Engineering Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:05 EST news691925761 The human body continuously generates a rich spectrum of vibrations—often without us ever noticing. Everyday unconscious activities such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing all produce subtle yet distinct mechanical signals. Although these faint vibrations carry valuable information about physiological state, they have long been difficult to capture accurately using conventional wearable devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-body-quietest-dynamic-movements-wearable.html Engineering Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:20:05 EST news691949041 Cornell researchers have used high-resolution 3D imaging to detect, for the first time, the atomic-scale defects in computer chips that can sabotage their performance. The imaging method, which was the result of a collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Advanced Semiconductor Materials (ASM), could touch almost every form of modern electronics, from phones and automobiles to AI data centers and quantum computing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-electron-microscopy-mouse-defects-semiconductors.html Engineering Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:01 EST news691674901 A new glove with more than three dozen actuators across all five fingers and the palm, developed by Cornell researchers, aims to reduce swelling for people suffering from edema. The glove, known as EdemaFlex, was proven safe for unsupervised home use in a seven-participant study, with hand volume decreasing by up to 25% after one 30-minute session. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-soft-robotic-glove-actuators.html Robotics Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:20:03 EST news691252073 Enzymatic biofuel cells can act as self-powered wearable biosensors by converting chemicals in body fluids into electricity; however, manufacturing challenges have prevented their widespread adoption. Now, researchers from Japan have developed water-based 'enzyme inks' that enable single-step screen printing of complete biofuel cells onto paper substrates. The printed electrodes demonstrated superior performance and stability compared to those made using conventional methods, paving the way for mass-produced, battery-free wearable health monitors. The findings are published in the journal ACS Applied Engineering Materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-based-enzyme-ink-enables-wearable.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:03 EST news691242601 DNA, the genetic blueprints in every living organism, is nature's most efficient storage mechanism, capable of storing about 215 million gigabytes of data per gram. That storage capacity, if applied to electronics, could enable significantly more efficient data centers, speedier data processing and the ability to process far more complicated data. The trick to making this technological leap is getting DNA, a biological material, to work with electronics. A team led by Penn State researchers has figured out how to bridge the wide compatibility gap. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-biology-power-gen-storage.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:40:03 EST news691157317 Just like each person has unique fingerprints, every CMOS chip has a distinctive "fingerprint" caused by tiny, random manufacturing variations. Engineers can leverage this unforgeable ID for authentication, to safeguard a device from attackers trying to steal private data. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-chip-fabrication-method-twin-fingerprints.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:34:19 EST news690820437 Flexible electronics are often sold on a simple promise: bendable screens, lightweight solar cells or wearable devices that can bend and flex without breaking. But what does that "flexibility" actually look like at the molecular scale, and how does it affect performance? Researchers led by the University of Cambridge say they have taken a first step towards answering this question. Using ultra-sensitive atomic force microscopy—which analyzes materials by "feeling" them—the researchers were able to measure how stiff flexible semiconductor molecules are when packed together, down to the scale of just a few molecules. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-flexibility-limits-wearable-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:20:01 EST news690728686 A broken motor in an automated machine can bring production on a busy factory floor to a halt. If engineers can't find a replacement part, they may have to order one from a distributor hundreds of miles away, leading to costly production delays. It would be easier, faster, and cheaper to make a new motor onsite, but fabricating electric machines typically requires specialized equipment and complicated processes, which restricts production to a few manufacturing centers. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-3d-platform-rapidly-complex-electric.html Engineering Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:44:26 EST news690637441 In the race for lighter, safer and more efficient electronics—from electric vehicles to transcontinental energy grids—one component literally holds the power: the polymer capacitor. Seen in such applications as medical defibrillators, polymer capacitors are responsible for quick bursts of energy and stabilizing power rather than holding large amounts of energy, as opposed to the slower, steadier energy of a battery. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-polymer-alloy-energy-storage.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:35 EST news690628571 Fiber batteries are an emerging technology which could one day be used to create smart clothing with a wide array of functions, from charging electronic devices to acting as wearable controllers. However, a new study finds scientists have two major obstacles to overcome before the technology is ready for practical use. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-fiber-batteries-smart-obstacles.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:14:20 EST news690549242 Measuring human movement with tracking devices on looser clothing is more accurate than on tight body suits or straps. This discovery by scientists at King's College London could mark a potential breakthrough for a range of technologies, including improving accuracy of personal health devices, such as Fitbits and smart watches, and enhancing motion capture for CGI movie characters. It could also support health and medical research by making it easier to gather data on conditions affecting mobility such as Parkinson's. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-fitbit-health-tracker-button-shirt.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:40:01 EST news690110821 Scientists have created a new type of material that could enable common electronic devices to work faster and use less energy, a study suggests. The findings indicate the material, which was until now thought near-impossible to make, can act as a highly effective semiconductor—a key component of modern electrical devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-gesn-alloys-emerge-semiconductor-class.html Engineering Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:41:35 EST news689524861 Caltech scientists have developed a way to guide light on silicon wafers with low signal loss approaching that of optical fiber at visible wavelengths. This accomplishment paves the way for a new generation of ultra-coherent and efficient photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which will have a profound impact in a variety of on-chip applications, including precision measurements, such as optical clocks for timing and gyroscopes for rotation, as well as AI data-center communications and even quantum computing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-optical-fiber-ultralow-loss-photonic.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:47:34 EST news689428021 Thermoelectric conversion devices offer a promising route for sustainable heat-to-energy conversion. They are particularly attractive for recovering energy from waste heat, such as that produced by conventional fossil fuel-based engines, improving their overall energy efficiency. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-mosi8322-transverse-thermoelectric-effect-electricity.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:34:36 EST news689330042 From TVs and smartwatches to rapidly emerging VR and AR devices, micro-LEDs are a next-generation display technology in which each LED—smaller than the thickness of a human hair—emits light on its own. Among the three primary colors required for full-color displays—red, green, and blue—the realization of high-performance red micro-LEDs has long been considered the most difficult. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-key-micro-enabling-reality-visuals.html Electronics & Semiconductors Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:05:37 EST news689000701 MIT researchers have designed silicon structures that can perform calculations in an electronic device using excess heat instead of electricity. These tiny structures could someday enable more energy-efficient computation. In this computing method, input data are encoded as a set of temperatures using the waste heat already present in a device. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-tiny-silicon-accurate-matrix-multiplication.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:25:24 EST news688926301 The promise of smart wearables is often talked up, and while there have been some impressive innovations, we are still not seeing their full potential. Among the things holding them back is that the chips that operate them are stiff, brittle, and power-hungry. To overcome these problems, researchers from Tsinghua University and Peking University in China have developed FLEXI, a new family of flexible chips. They are thinner than a human hair, flexible enough to be folded thousands of times, and incorporate AI. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-flexible-ai-chip-smart-wearables.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:50:02 EST news688909500 Over the past decades, computer scientists have developed increasingly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that perform well on various tasks, including the analysis or generation of images, videos, audio recordings and texts. These systems power various highly performing software, including automated transcription apps, large language model (LLM)-powered conversational agents like ChatGPT, and various other platforms. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-emitting-artificial-neurons-ai-reliably.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:10:01 EST news688828204 Organic semiconductors are thin, flexible, and extremely versatile materials that have revolutionized the world of consumer electronics. They are the core technology behind organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, which deliver the vivid colors and contrast seen in modern smartphones and televisions. Additionally, there are ongoing research efforts to harness these same materials for organic photovoltaics (OPVs), aiming to create flexible and cost-effective solar cells that could be embedded into our living spaces and devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-powered-electronics-semiconductors-emission-energy.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:15:28 EST news688670101 Scientists led by a team from Fudan University in Shanghai have created a new flexible fiber chip as thin as a human hair. The development could usher in a new generation of even smarter wearables for a range of applications, including health monitoring and interactive clothing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-sushi-flexible-fiber-chip-thin.html Engineering Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:00:09 EST news688647581 A new transceiver invented by electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine boosts radio frequencies into 140-gigahertz territory, unlocking data speeds that rival those of physical fiber-optic cables and laying the groundwork for a transition to 6G and FutureG data transmission protocols. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-wireless-transceiver-rivals-fiber-optic.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:33:26 EST news688321981 Most electronics are built on flat, stiff boards, which makes it incredibly difficult to fit them onto curved and irregular shapes we find in the real world, such as human limbs or curved aircraft wings. While flexible electronics have made some progress, they are often not durable enough or are too complex to manufacture for everyday use. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-method-electronic-circuits-irregular.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:00:04 EST news688229818 A UCLA-led, multi-institution research team has discovered a metallic material with the highest thermal conductivity measured among metals, challenging long-standing assumptions about the limits of heat transport in metallic materials. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-newly-metallic-material-thermal-upends.html Engineering Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:00:04 EST news688146714 A research team affiliated with UNIST has introduced a novel, high-performance, and thermally stable polymer-based non-volatile analog switch. This next-generation device is as thin and flexible as vinyl, yet capable of withstanding high temperatures. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-durable-polymer-based-flexible-rf.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:55:25 EST news688125301