Latest In Nanotech Lithography

Last, a new addition to your tech lexicon: Nanotech lithography. In the latest issue of Breakthrough Technology Alert, editor Patrick Cox told his readers about the coming boom in a technology that allows us to “print” electronics on virtually anything.

“Xerox has developed a silver-based conductive ink that can be printed on everything from plastics to textiles,” Patrick notes. “The ink’s melting temperature of 140 degrees Celsius is low enough to allow printing on plastics. Instead of expensive fabrication facilities, specialized inkjet printers will be able to print circuits that could be used as part of flexible signage, radio frequency identifier tags and even novelty clothing.

“Beyond logic circuits, energy storage devices will be printable as well. Two years ago, chemists at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., were able to place a thin film of cellulose over a surface of carbon nanotubes. This breakthrough will enable paper and CNT-based batteries. Stanford researchers have been able to take a paper substrate and coat it with ink made of silver and carbon nanotubes to create working ‘paper batteries.’

“Paper-based batteries charge and discharge quickly, making them suitable for a wide variety of technologies. Together, these breakthroughs herald an era of ultra-cheap, easily manufactured energy storage…

“New nanotech-scale manufacturing and materials technologies in the semiconductor industry are going to power a revolution in how we make electronic devices, power our homes and collect and analyze information. Right now, the vast majority of people have no idea how profound these changes are going to be.”

This is just one of several technologies Patrick says are on the verge of changing the world as we know it. For the full list, look here.

Source: Agora Financial

Stuff like this is so cool.  Even more cool will be the ability to fabricate electronics at home.  What a brave new frontier to the information age!

Imagine some day people will buy $5,000 circuit printers with custom enclosure fabrication functionality.  The user will download the specs and it will spit out a shiny new gadget.  The requirements will change just like computers, along the lines of Moore's Law, so you'll want to have the latest printer.  The fabricated gadgets could be as simple as a flash application today, like those annoying sound boards.  Or it might be a hand-held game because eventually, these printers will be capable of fabricating lights, simple displays, and so forth, I imagine.  Or maybe the lights are external and the displays would use a form of e-ink technology!

There will be completely practical uses for these printers, but by far, they will be used for total crap.  Sounds like fun!  Maybe I'll be able to print an actual working full sized flying car!  I was promised flying cars, you know (E: Yes, Anthony, we know you were promised flying cars).

Posted via email from Anthony Martin's Weblog