Chances are the microchip your using in your computer, phone, or Teddy Ruxspin is being powered by some electrical source other than their own. While that’s the norm with today’s microchips, the future may bring chips that can be powered by their own accord or rather, through solar power. Researchers from the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute of Nanotechnology have successfully created a microchip that is fused with an efficient solar cell eliminating the need for an out-side power source. How did they do it? The researchers, instead of manufacturing the solar cell and then apply it, placed the cell layer by layer on the chip itself, which is more efficient. However this method isn’t without risks as it could damage the chip itself making it work less efficiently and ultimately nullifying the concept of autonomous power. So how can they combat that problem? Well Prof. Jurriaan Schmitz and his team used amorphous silicon or CIGS to make the solar cell portion of the microchip which lets them function even in low light without affecting the electronics used in the microchip. Talk about being efficient. These new chips could even house an antenna for wireless communication for use in intelligent sensors. There is one drawback though as the chips energy consumption needs to be below 1 milliwatt to sustain function. For more information please visit: http://www.utwente.nl/organization/stories/chip-provides-its-own-power
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