Egg-based electronics’ offer surprisingly good electrical performance. Egg white also known as egg albumen is not only good-tasting, it also has very good dielectric properties. It boasts a high transparency and high elasticity. This makes it a promising material for fabricating transparent, flexible electronic devices. In a new study, researchers have shown that when egg albumen is mixed with hydrogen peroxide a series of chemical reactions occur that transforms the bio material into an active film. This can then be used to make transparent, flexible resistive memory devices.
This is not the first time that egg albumen has been incorporated into electronic devices. Previously, the albumen from chicken and duck eggs has been used in transistors and other devices as the dielectric (insulating) layer. However, the new work marks the first time that egg albumen has been used to make resistive memories. These memories are being developed as a next-generation alternative to the silicon-based memories that dominate today’s electronics.
Here at Arrow we will be keen to get our hands on them and test against the silicone based products, if they do come to market that is!.
The Research is ongoing at the Southwest University in China. If you want to find out more about this electrical breakthrough follow the link below.