Active Transiency: A Novel Approach to Expedite Degradation in Transient Electronics

Transient materials/electronics is an emerging class of technology concerned with materials and devices that are designed to operate over a pre-defined period of time, then undergo controlled degradation when exposed to stimuli. Degradation/transiency rate in solvent-triggered devices is strongly dependent on the chemical composition of the constituents, as well as their interactions with the solvent upon exposure. Such interactions are typically slow, passive, and diffusion-driven. In this study, we are introducing and exploring the integration of gas-forming reactions into transient materials/electronics to achieve expedited and active transiency. The integration of more complex chemical reaction paths to transiency not only expedites the dissolution mechanism but also maintains the pre-transiency stability of the system while under operation. A proof-of-concept transient electronic device, utilizing sodium-bicarbonate/citric-acid pair as gas-forming agents, is demonstrated and studied vs. control devices in the absence of gas-forming agents. While exhibiting enhanced transiency behavior, substrates with gas-forming agents also demonstrated sufficient mechanical properties and physical stability to be used as platforms for electronics.