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World record semiconductor performance set to enable the internet of things
SmartKem's circuits undergo testing at the School of Electronic Engineering.Flexible electronics for the internet of things are now a reality thanks to new technology created by North Wales company SmartKem Ltd, with the help of scientists at 亚洲色吧
Scientists at the School of Electronic Engineering have been testing 鈥檚 semiconductor material truFLEX庐 and have demonstrated operating in electronic form at the frequencies required to make high-speed flexible electronics a reality.
This result demonstrates that the historic barrier of transistor speed, to realising fast, solution-printed electronics no longer exists and opens the door to a wide range of exciting application possibilities.
This new speed of operation of truFLEX庐 based electronics means that we will soon be seeing complex flexible electronics for RFID or NFC labels and sensors becoming ubiquitous. truFLEX庐 semiconductors have been designed for the low temperature, low-cost, production of thin film, flexible electronics, manufactured using solution-coat production techniques. High volume production of high speed, conformable electronics onto any surface is seen as the 鈥榟oly grail鈥 of technology platforms needed to drive the growth of the 鈥榯he internet of things鈥 (IoT).
In addition, the flexibility and durability of the truFLEX庐 technology platform coupled with the potential for high volume print production means circuits such as RFID or NFC tags (essentially electronic bar codes) could be applied to fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs).
Dr Mike Cowin, head of strategic marketing at SmartKem, adds: 鈥淚f application to FMCGs is realised you could soon see the day where a trip to your local supermarket, will see you filling your shopping trolley and just walking out of the store 鈥 all products will be scanned by RF whilst in the trolley as you walk out and payment taken automatically via your smartphone or smartwatch.鈥
The IoT has been talked about by techies for a while now and the advent of flexible electronic devices means information will be automatically collected and shared amongst people and objects geospatially, at home, in the office or on the move. The advantages of such a pervasive, ambient communication network will be fundamental in terms of improving health, lifestyle, work efficiency and general quality of life.
Professor Martin Taylor, from the School of Electronic E