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Abstract Papertronics introduce a sustainable, cost‐effective revolution in electronics, especially for the Internet of Things. This research overcomes the traditional challenges of paper's porosity, which has impeded electronic component fabrication and performance. A novel approach that harnesses paper's natural capillary action, combined with hydrophobic wax patterning, to achieve precise vertical integration of electronic components is introduced. This method marks a significant departure from conventional surface deposition techniques. This study demonstrates the successful creation of tunable resistors, capacitors, and field‐effect transistors, embedded within a single sheet of paper. Contrary to previous assumptions that impeded the use of paper, its rough and porous texture as a strategic advantage, facilitating the precise fabrication of intricate electronic components is leveraged. Machine learning algorithms play an important role in predicting and enhancing the performance of these papertronic components. This innovation facilitates the development of compact printed circuit boards with increased circuit density, enabling the integration of diverse analog and digital circuits in either single or multi‐layer paper formats. The resulting papertronic systems exceed performance benchmarks, offering eco‐friendly disposal through biodegradability or incineration. These breakthroughs establish papertronics as a feasible, eco‐friendly alternative in the electronics industry, permitting widespread adoption and continuous innovation in sustainable electronic solutions.
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Papertronics: Fully paper-integrated resistor, capacitor, and transistor circuits
This work presents fabrication techniques for achieving individual electronic components both on the surface and within the fibers of a paper substrate, attaining full integration of paper and functional electronics materials. A process of hydrophobic wax patterning coupled with conductive and semiconductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT: PSS)-based ink injection and screen-printing has allowed for the implementation of all-paper-based, tunable resistors, capacitors, and transistors. The characteristics of the paper resistors can be adjusted as desired through finetuning of the PEDOT: PSS- based ink recipe, and the components can be combined in various arrangements to attain paper-based printed circuit boards (PCBs) for a wide range of practical applications. As a first step towards multiple component integration, a simple example circuit design is demonstrated that incorporates the three different components. Furthermore, through the strategic organization of the resistors, transistors, and capacitors and stacking of paper layers, more complex and diverse paper PCBs can be attained while minimizing the perceived surface area of the circuitry, allowing for a compact, pliable, and highly customizable means of fabricating paper-based electronic systems.
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- PAR ID:
- 10376401
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Technical digest SolidState Sensor Actuator and Microsystems Workshop
- ISSN:
- 1539-204X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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