https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/semiconductors-news/ en-us The latest news on electronics and semiconductor technology developments Princeton researchers have combined brain cells and advanced electronics into a single 3D device that can be programmed to recognize patterns using computational techniques. Past attempts at using brain cells to do computation have relied on 2D cultures grown in a petri dish or 3D clusters that are probed and monitored from outside. The Princeton device takes a different approach, working from the inside out. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-3d-device-harnesses-brain-cells.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:04 EDT news696181502 What if the next generation of disposable electronics—the sensors in your food packaging, the diagnostic strips in a medical clinic, the environmental monitors scattered across a farm—were built not on silicon or plastic, but on a sheet of paper you could buy at the grocery store? https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-lasers-parchment-paper-high-electronic.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:02 EDT news696079621 The popularity of cloud computing and AI—driving massive data flows—pushes demand for ultra-high-speed, energy-efficient optical links within and between data centers; links that must be able to deliver data rates well beyond today's 200Gb/s standard. The heterogeneous integration of new materials onto silicon photonics platforms will enable next-gen electro-optical modulators and detectors for such short-reach and short-haul interconnects. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-silicon-photonics-gained-powerful-ally.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:20:07 EDT news696078301 Northwestern University engineers printed artificial neurons that don't just imitate the brain—they talk to it. In a new study, the Northwestern team developed flexible, low-cost devices that generate electrical signals realistic enough to activate living brain cells. When tested on slices of tissue from mouse brains, the artificial neurons successfully triggered responses from real neurons, demonstrating a new level of biocompatibility. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-neurons-communicate-brain-cells.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:04 EDT news695379604 In a recently published paper in Science Advances, a team led by Rice University's Yong Lin Kong describes a new 3D-printing process with focused microwaves that overcomes a fundamental constraint of electronics 3D printing that has limited the field's potential for more than a decade: the inability to heat printed ink—a crucial processing step—without damaging the materials underneath. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-3d-electronics-focused-microwaves-redefines.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news695403781 P-n diodes are two-terminal devices that consist of two types of semiconductor materials (i.e., a p-type and an n-type material) joined together. These components allow electric current to only move in one direction, which is central to the functioning of many electronic circuits. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-tiny-diode-image-sensors-adding.html Electronics & Semiconductors Sun, 12 Apr 2026 10:00:01 EDT news694957010 Researchers have developed a simple and eco-friendly way to use a laser to turn natural leather into flexible and wearable energy devices. The new approach could lay the groundwork for more sustainable wearable electronics. In a paper in Optics Letters, the researchers demonstrate the new technique by creating microsupercapacitors on leather in various patterns, including a tiger, dragon and rabbit. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-leather-power-laser-written-microsupercapacitors.html Electronics & Semiconductors Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:20:03 EDT news694883702 Electrons have three intrinsic properties: spin, charge and orbital angular momentum. Researchers have long studied how to use spin to more efficiently create an electrical current. But the field of orbitronics—which is based upon using an electron's orbital angular momentum, rather than its spin, to create a current flow—remains relatively new. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-door-efficient-orbitronic-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:00:03 EDT news694425997 Rice University scientists and collaborators have created a new type of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor that comes closer than ever to a "perfect" crystal. The findings, reported in the journal Nature Synthesis, could open new possibilities for solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-symmetrical-2d-perovskite-boost-tandem.html Electronics & Semiconductors Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:20:02 EDT news694505521 New types of semiconductor devices that respond to light could be possible using materials called perovskites, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis. The work, published in Advanced Materials, shows that halide perovskite crystals reversibly change shape when exposed to light. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-perovskite-crystal-lattice-devices.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:20:06 EDT news694166401 Think about how easily you recognize a friend in a dimly lit room. Your eyes capture light, while your brain filters out background noise, retrieves stored visual information, and processes the image to make a match. It all happens in a fraction of a second and uses remarkably little energy. Unfortunately, artificial vision systems in smartphones, cameras, and autonomous machines operate more like an assembly line. In our recent paper published in Nature Electronics, we describe how we addressed this challenge by enabling sensing, memory, and processing within the same device, pointing to a possible route toward more efficient machine vision. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-diode-memory-smart-cameras.html Hardware Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:00:03 EDT news694089972 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new way to package photonic integrated circuits—tiny chips that convey information using light instead of electricity—so they can survive and operate in extreme environments, from scorchingly hot industrial settings to ultracold vacuum chambers and the depths of outer space. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-photonic-chip-packaging-extreme-environments.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:20:01 EDT news694109881 Consider the chief difference between living systems and electronics: The first is generally soft and squishy while the latter is hard and rigid. Now, in work that could impact human-machine interfaces, biocompatible devices, soft robotics and more, MIT engineers and colleagues have developed a soft, flexible gel that dramatically changes its conductivity upon the application of light. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-gel-boosts-ion.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:40:03 EDT news694101518 A soft material developed by researchers at QUT can convert body heat into electricity, opening the door to self-powered wearable devices and more sustainable energy technologies. Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, the research found that the flexible hydrogel captured wasted heat and turned it into usable electrical power with record efficiency. The paper is titled "Ionic Coordination and Hierarchical Architecture Enable Record n-Type Thermoelectric Efficiency in Soft Hydrogels." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-flexible-gel-body-power-generation.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:09 EDT news694089421 Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) present a novel component that enables very fast, economical, and reliable data transmission thanks to an advanced manufacturing technology. Their new electro-optical modulator transmits data efficiently through fiber-optic cables and can be manufactured inexpensively in large quantities on standard semiconductor wafers. This is important, as AI applications and growing data traffic are pushing data centers and fiber-optic networks to their performing limits. The researchers present their findings in Nature Communications. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ai-centers-faster-links-mass.html Electronics & Semiconductors Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:02 EDT news693069264 Powerful electronics don't have to come at an environmental cost. Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed high-performance, lead-free piezoelectric thin films directly on standard silicon wafers. Their results mark a significant step toward production of environmentally friendly energy-harvesting devices that are compatible with conventional semiconductor manufacturing. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-free-thin-everyday-vibrations-electricity.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:20:01 EDT news693140341 A team of international researchers have developed a breakthrough way to observe what is happening inside electronic chips while they are operating—without touching them, taking them apart, or switching them off. The new technique uses terahertz waves, a safe and non-ionizing form of electromagnetic radiation, to detect tiny movements of electrical charge inside fully packaged semiconductor devices. For the first time, this allows scientists and engineers to monitor electronic components as they function in the real world. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-ray-vision-electronics-scientists-chips.html Electronics & Semiconductors Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:40:03 EDT news693139142 Projection mapping has the potential to create shared immersive experiences in exhibitions, commercial facilities, and public spaces. However, the technique is highly sensitive to ambient lighting, meaning that clear projected images are typically only possible when the surrounding environment is darkened. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-method-blocks-ambient-images-sharp.html Engineering Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:04 EDT news693133164 Seoul National University College of Engineering has announced that a research team led by Prof. Jeonghun Kwak of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with co-first authors Dr. Juhyung Park and Dr. Sun Hong Kim, has developed a flexible and thin "pseudo-transverse thermoelectric generator" capable of producing electricity from body heat. The research findings appear in Science Advances. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-wearable-thermoelectric-technology-thin-generate.html Engineering Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:20:01 EDT news693065521 The pixels in phone screens and other OLED displays appear to provide a uniform glow, but a team of University of Michigan Engineering researchers has discovered the light actually originates from nanoscale hotspots, some of which flicker. This might be hurting device lifespans. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-nanoscale-hotspots-oleds-shorten-lifespans.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:40:02 EDT news692980741 What if electronic circuits could be created simply by drawing lines with a pencil on paper or leaves—and then immediately applied to soft robots or skin-attached health monitoring devices? Korean researchers have developed an electronic materials technology that forms electrically conductive liquid metal in a fine powder form, allowing circuits to be drawn directly on a wide variety of surfaces. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-mechanically-liquid-metal-powder-users.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:20:03 EDT news692890041 A research team led by Professor Jae Eun Jang and Dr. Goeun Pyo from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at DGIST has developed "dual-modulated vertically stacked transistors" that operate stably without current leakage even in two-dimensional nanoscale channel structures. A study on this work is published in the journal Advanced Science. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-key-transistor-generation-3d-stacked.html Electronics & Semiconductors Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:02 EDT news692891281 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