Descrizione del progetto
Novità per l’elettronica bioispirata stampata in 3D
È in corso una transizione dall’elettronica rigida, fragile, inquinante e dipendente dalle batterie a quella morbida, resiliente, riciclabile e autoalimentata. In questo contesto, il progetto Liquid3D, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà una serie di innovativi compositi stampabili senza sinterizzazione basati su metalli liquidi, al fine di stampare in 3D cellule funzionali per il rilevamento, la gestione, l’elaborazione e lo stoccaggio di energia, che sono aggrovigliate insieme in modo distribuito e tridimensionale. Liquid3D mira a fornire libertà di progettazione agli scienziati, consentendo loro di stampare elettronica morbida futuristica. L’aspetto impressionante di questa elettronica è che consentirà un nuovo livello di bioispirazione nei dispositivi creati dall’uomo, che prima non era possibile. Il progetto svilupperà anche una comprensione fondamentale e una modellizzazione matematica dei compositi bifasici basati sul metallo liquido, nonché metodi per il riciclaggio dei compositi sviluppati.
Obiettivo
Liquid3D proposes bioinspired electronics and machines that are soft, resilient, self-healing, shape-morphing, and fully recyclable. Functional sensing/acting/processing/energy cells will be 3D printed using a series of game changer Liquid Metal based composites. As a result, we will print futuristic soft electronics that sense and interact with humans or the environment. This provides an excellent design freedom to scientists for manufacturing complex “living” electronics, while guaranteeing that any possible product coming from these inventions will be Resilient, Repairable, and Recyclable. I expect that over 80% of microchips, and metals in the printed circuits, can be recovered. Liquid3D redefines the electronics, by rethinking the materials, fabrications, and design architectures.
These objectives are feasible, thanks to the recent breakthroughs that I made to the field: First; discovery of the biphasic (liquid-solid) composite based on Gallium-Indium Liquid Metal (LM), that allowed the first ever method for room temperature printing of stretchable circuits; and second, a method for inclusion of microelectronics into ultra-stretchable circuits through self-soldering, self-healing, and self-encapsulating of LM-Polymer composites.
With Liquid3D I will develop fundamental understanding, and mathematical modelling of biphasic systems, and develops novel room temperature printable composites with sensing/acting/energy storage properties, and methods for recycling them. I will investigate novel forms of implementing truly 3D electronics, with distributed functional cells.
Liquid3D intends to fundamentally rethink, the concept of electronics, as we know today. From rigid and brittle to soft, resilient and repairable; From polluting to recyclable; from battery dependent to self-powered; from 2D to truly 3D; It proposes a radically new way of making “greener” electronics.
With Liquid3D I aim to establish the world leading centre on recyclable, and green electronics.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticssoft robotics
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsmicroelectronics
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
3004-531 Coimbra
Portogallo