I want to start off by asking all of you a simple question how many of you wish
a simple question how many of you wish
a simple question how many of you wish that your phone laptop or other device
that your phone laptop or other device
that your phone laptop or other device of choice have a longer-lasting battery
of choice have a longer-lasting battery
of choice have a longer-lasting battery raise those hands hi okay Wow oh this
raise those hands hi okay Wow oh this
raise those hands hi okay Wow oh this guy has two hands up yeah I love it
guy has two hands up yeah I love it
guy has two hands up yeah I love it I think our reaction to that is it a lot
I think our reaction to that is it a lot
I think our reaction to that is it a lot of ways representative of our underlying
of ways representative of our underlying
of ways representative of our underlying philosophy when it comes to our devices
philosophy when it comes to our devices
philosophy when it comes to our devices whether it’s in consumer electronics
whether it’s in consumer electronics
whether it’s in consumer electronics appliances or even now more recently our
appliances or even now more recently our
appliances or even now more recently our fancy new electric vehicles we want our
fancy new electric vehicles we want our
fancy new electric vehicles we want our batteries to last as long as possible
batteries to last as long as possible
batteries to last as long as possible and then finally when we’re done with
and then finally when we’re done with
and then finally when we’re done with them we tend to just throw them out so
them we tend to just throw them out so
them we tend to just throw them out so with that backdrop you can probably
with that backdrop you can probably
with that backdrop you can probably imagine just how surprised I was upon
imagine just how surprised I was upon
imagine just how surprised I was upon coming across the field of transient or
coming across the field of transient or
coming across the field of transient or biodegradable electronics because of the
biodegradable electronics because of the
biodegradable electronics because of the emphasis that we traditionally place on
emphasis that we traditionally place on
emphasis that we traditionally place on durable long lasting devices I had never
durable long lasting devices I had never
durable long lasting devices I had never even stopped to consider the merits of
even stopped to consider the merits of
even stopped to consider the merits of the opposite devices that degrade
the opposite devices that degrade
the opposite devices that degrade intentionally over time but as I thought
intentionally over time but as I thought
intentionally over time but as I thought some more I start to realize just how
some more I start to realize just how
some more I start to realize just how useful they could be let’s take a look
useful they could be let’s take a look
useful they could be let’s take a look at a couple of examples consider a
at a couple of examples consider a
at a couple of examples consider a situation like an oil spill where
situation like an oil spill where
situation like an oil spill where sensing can be incredibly important well
sensing can be incredibly important well
sensing can be incredibly important well we can’t just drop thousands of normal
we can’t just drop thousands of normal
we can’t just drop thousands of normal sensors into the ocean because for one
sensors into the ocean because for one
sensors into the ocean because for one it would be super hard to reclaim all of
it would be super hard to reclaim all of
it would be super hard to reclaim all of them and if we left them behind that
them and if we left them behind that
them and if we left them behind that could actually further pollute the
could actually further pollute the
could actually further pollute the environment
environment
environment counter-intuitively because some of
counter-intuitively because some of
counter-intuitively because some of those sensors might actually contain
those sensors might actually contain
those sensors might actually contain toxic elements that’s where transient
toxic elements that’s where transient
toxic elements that’s where transient electronics come in and mabeline
electronics come in and mabeline
electronics come in and mabeline effective cheap and above all benign
effective cheap and above all benign
effective cheap and above all benign systems that same logic applies to
systems that same logic applies to
systems that same logic applies to agricultural and environmental sensing
agricultural and environmental sensing
agricultural and environmental sensing and biodegradable consumer electronics
and biodegradable consumer electronics
and biodegradable consumer electronics like your laptops and phones could help
like your laptops and phones could help
like your laptops and phones could help minimize the millions of tons of
minimize the millions of tons of
minimize the millions of tons of electronic waste that have increasingly
electronic waste that have increasingly
electronic waste that have increasingly been linked with environmental and
been linked with environmental and
been linked with environmental and health problems
health problems
health problems but possibly the most enticing
but possibly the most enticing
but possibly the most enticing application of all at least in my mind
application of all at least in my mind
application of all at least in my mind lies in the field of medicine there are
lies in the field of medicine there are
lies in the field of medicine there are lots of problems that arise in the
lots of problems that arise in the
lots of problems that arise in the gastrointestinal tract of the human body
gastrointestinal tract of the human body
gastrointestinal tract of the human body for instance so imagine a small capsule
for instance so imagine a small capsule
for instance so imagine a small capsule no larger than a prescription pill that
no larger than a prescription pill that
no larger than a prescription pill that you might take and you could swallow
you might take and you could swallow
you might take and you could swallow this capsule and as it traveled through
this capsule and as it traveled through
this capsule and as it traveled through your body it would dynamically transmit
your body it would dynamically transmit
your body it would dynamically transmit information this could be on temperature
information this could be on temperature
information this could be on temperature acidity or any other variable you can
acidity or any other variable you can
acidity or any other variable you can imagine and then slowly over the course
imagine and then slowly over the course
imagine and then slowly over the course of the next several hours it would
of the next several hours it would
of the next several hours it would dissolve harmlessly away now that type
dissolve harmlessly away now that type
dissolve harmlessly away now that type of real-time monitoring could provide
of real-time monitoring could provide
of real-time monitoring could provide invaluable information not just to you
invaluable information not just to you
invaluable information not just to you but to your doctor to people trying to
but to your doctor to people trying to
but to your doctor to people trying to better understand diseases and all this
better understand diseases and all this
better understand diseases and all this with absolutely no risk to you the
with absolutely no risk to you the
with absolutely no risk to you the patient
patient
patient what’s more you could even embed a
what’s more you could even embed a
what’s more you could even embed a controlled release system of medication
controlled release system of medication
controlled release system of medication into this small capsule so now you’re
into this small capsule so now you’re
into this small capsule so now you’re not just using it for monitoring but for
not just using it for monitoring but for
not just using it for monitoring but for something as powerful as targeted drug
something as powerful as targeted drug
something as powerful as targeted drug delivery so needless to say after
delivery so needless to say after
delivery so needless to say after hearing about all these possibilities I
hearing about all these possibilities I
hearing about all these possibilities I was super excited I had a background in
was super excited I had a background in
was super excited I had a background in research and material science and so I
research and material science and so I
research and material science and so I felt that this was right up my alley
felt that this was right up my alley
felt that this was right up my alley and the logical first step was figuring
and the logical first step was figuring
and the logical first step was figuring out what exactly had been done in the
out what exactly had been done in the
out what exactly had been done in the field so far and in the summer of 2015
field so far and in the summer of 2015
field so far and in the summer of 2015 when I first began asking these
when I first began asking these
when I first began asking these questions I was pretty surprised to find
questions I was pretty surprised to find
questions I was pretty surprised to find that the answer was really not that much
that the answer was really not that much
that the answer was really not that much I saw that transient electronics was
I saw that transient electronics was
I saw that transient electronics was still an emerging and growing area but
still an emerging and growing area but
still an emerging and growing area but there was a lot of room still left
there was a lot of room still left
there was a lot of room still left uncovered and so the natural progression
uncovered and so the natural progression
uncovered and so the natural progression was figuring out where I fit in within
was figuring out where I fit in within
was figuring out where I fit in within this broad scope and I realized that at
this broad scope and I realized that at
this broad scope and I realized that at the heart of any system is the battery
the heart of any system is the battery
the heart of any system is the battery which serves as an on-board power source
which serves as an on-board power source
which serves as an on-board power source so my thinking was that I could really
so my thinking was that I could really
so my thinking was that I could really focus on and improve upon this essential
focus on and improve upon this essential
focus on and improve upon this essential component I would be able to make the
component I would be able to make the
component I would be able to make the biggest difference I spent the next
biggest difference I spent the next
biggest difference I spent the next several months doing background research
several months doing background research
several months doing background research reading journal articles and eventually
reading journal articles and eventually
reading journal articles and eventually I
I
I came up with my own design for a
came up with my own design for a
came up with my own design for a biodegradable battery and the result was
biodegradable battery and the result was
biodegradable battery and the result was this a device comprised of magnesium and
this a device comprised of magnesium and
this a device comprised of magnesium and iron both of which are fully
iron both of which are fully
iron both of which are fully biodegradable and biocompatible metals
biodegradable and biocompatible metals
biodegradable and biocompatible metals that can be used safely within the
that can be used safely within the
that can be used safely within the context of either the body or the
context of either the body or the
context of either the body or the environment the total volume on this
environment the total volume on this
environment the total volume on this device was on the order of just cubic
device was on the order of just cubic
device was on the order of just cubic millimeters so extremely small and did
millimeters so extremely small and did
millimeters so extremely small and did it was capable of providing power for
it was capable of providing power for
it was capable of providing power for over 30 hours and dissolved entirely in
over 30 hours and dissolved entirely in
over 30 hours and dissolved entirely in the span of just a few days as you can
the span of just a few days as you can
the span of just a few days as you can see in these images it was also really
see in these images it was also really
see in these images it was also really great is that the performance of the
great is that the performance of the
great is that the performance of the battery matched up and actually exceeded
battery matched up and actually exceeded
battery matched up and actually exceeded those of lots of studies that had been
those of lots of studies that had been
those of lots of studies that had been reported earlier and in digital better
reported earlier and in digital better
reported earlier and in digital better performance was also more cost effective
performance was also more cost effective
performance was also more cost effective while matching up perfectly with
while matching up perfectly with
while matching up perfectly with requirements for low-power electronic
requirements for low-power electronic
requirements for low-power electronic systems demonstrating immediate
systems demonstrating immediate
systems demonstrating immediate applicability in small short lasting
applicability in small short lasting
applicability in small short lasting sensors which is really great result and
sensors which is really great result and
sensors which is really great result and the last part of my work involved
the last part of my work involved
the last part of my work involved developing an efficient model that could
developing an efficient model that could
developing an efficient model that could closely track with real-world data and
closely track with real-world data and
closely track with real-world data and essentially predict battery performance
essentially predict battery performance
essentially predict battery performance over time and what that meant was that
over time and what that meant was that
over time and what that meant was that rather than having to run experimental
rather than having to run experimental
rather than having to run experimental tests manually for tens or even hundreds
tests manually for tens or even hundreds
tests manually for tens or even hundreds of hours you can now simply specify a
of hours you can now simply specify a
of hours you can now simply specify a handful of parameters and then
handful of parameters and then
handful of parameters and then immediately gauge how the battery would
immediately gauge how the battery would
immediately gauge how the battery would perform in specific applications which
perform in specific applications which
perform in specific applications which is a major saver of time and resources
is a major saver of time and resources
is a major saver of time and resources so that was really the essence of my
so that was really the essence of my
so that was really the essence of my work developing and modeling a
work developing and modeling a
work developing and modeling a biodegradable battery and yet for all
biodegradable battery and yet for all
biodegradable battery and yet for all the great results I think the aspect of
the great results I think the aspect of
the great results I think the aspect of my work that I enjoyed most thoroughly
my work that I enjoyed most thoroughly
my work that I enjoyed most thoroughly was just the sheer experimentation I
was just the sheer experimentation I
was just the sheer experimentation I think it’s only once you really get
think it’s only once you really get
think it’s only once you really get going on a project that you start to
going on a project that you start to
going on a project that you start to realize just so many options there are
realize just so many options there are
realize just so many options there are of things that you can do some of which
of things that you can do some of which
of things that you can do some of which will inevitably lead to new knowledge
will inevitably lead to new knowledge
will inevitably lead to new knowledge and in some rare cases even
and in some rare cases even
and in some rare cases even breakthroughs in fact I noticed
breakthroughs in fact I noticed
breakthroughs in fact I noticed throughout my journey that it was a
throughout my journey that it was a
throughout my journey that it was a small not as significant changes that
small not as significant changes that
small not as significant changes that were able to make the biggest impact I
were able to make the biggest impact I
were able to make the biggest impact I noticed pretty
noticed pretty
noticed pretty my testing process for example that
my testing process for example that
my testing process for example that magnesium which was one of my main
magnesium which was one of my main
magnesium which was one of my main materials was actually degrading much
materials was actually degrading much
materials was actually degrading much too quickly to have practical value and
too quickly to have practical value and
too quickly to have practical value and so here I was with all my aspirations
so here I was with all my aspirations
so here I was with all my aspirations looking at a battery that wasn’t
looking at a battery that wasn’t
looking at a battery that wasn’t actually functioning that wasn’t
actually functioning that wasn’t
actually functioning that wasn’t actually producing enough power and so
actually producing enough power and so
actually producing enough power and so of course I thought long and hard about
of course I thought long and hard about
of course I thought long and hard about how I could overcome this issue
how I could overcome this issue
how I could overcome this issue including lots of really complex and
including lots of really complex and
including lots of really complex and highly detailed solutions when
highly detailed solutions when
highly detailed solutions when eventually I thought why don’t I just
eventually I thought why don’t I just
eventually I thought why don’t I just try using an alloy my thinking was that
try using an alloy my thinking was that
try using an alloy my thinking was that just like steel is very different from
just like steel is very different from
just like steel is very different from pure iron in its actual properties that
pure iron in its actual properties that
pure iron in its actual properties that a magnesium alloy might in fact yield
a magnesium alloy might in fact yield
a magnesium alloy might in fact yield superior performance as compared to the
superior performance as compared to the
superior performance as compared to the pure magnesium and what was really
pure magnesium and what was really
pure magnesium and what was really remarkable is that in terms of
remarkable is that in terms of
remarkable is that in terms of composition the two materials were
composition the two materials were
composition the two materials were practically identical
practically identical
practically identical the alloy just added in three percent
the alloy just added in three percent
the alloy just added in three percent aluminum and one percent zinc and yet
aluminum and one percent zinc and yet
aluminum and one percent zinc and yet when I made this small change device
when I made this small change device
when I made this small change device performance improved by over six times
performance improved by over six times
performance improved by over six times which ended up being one of my main
which ended up being one of my main
which ended up being one of my main findings
findings
findings I think the key lesson there that some
I think the key lesson there that some
I think the key lesson there that some of our best breakthroughs can come from
of our best breakthroughs can come from
of our best breakthroughs can come from unexpected places is not just true in my
unexpected places is not just true in my
unexpected places is not just true in my research but also holds outside the
research but also holds outside the
research but also holds outside the confines of a research lab no matter
confines of a research lab no matter
confines of a research lab no matter what the field we need to learn to
what the field we need to learn to
what the field we need to learn to embrace the unconventional and to take a
embrace the unconventional and to take a
embrace the unconventional and to take a step back every once in a while and look
step back every once in a while and look
step back every once in a while and look at the broader picture if I hadn’t
at the broader picture if I hadn’t
at the broader picture if I hadn’t considered using the alloy which was a
considered using the alloy which was a
considered using the alloy which was a much simpler material solution than the
much simpler material solution than the
much simpler material solution than the other options I was looking at I would
other options I was looking at I would
other options I was looking at I would have missed out on one of my key
have missed out on one of my key
have missed out on one of my key discoveries if we don’t use models as
discoveries if we don’t use models as
discoveries if we don’t use models as simplifying abstractions the process of
simplifying abstractions the process of
simplifying abstractions the process of refining and improving our devices
refining and improving our devices
refining and improving our devices becomes exponentially more difficult and
becomes exponentially more difficult and
becomes exponentially more difficult and at an even higher level if we refuse to
at an even higher level if we refuse to
at an even higher level if we refuse to shift the fundamental paradigm in which
shift the fundamental paradigm in which
shift the fundamental paradigm in which we view our electronic devices in order
we view our electronic devices in order
we view our electronic devices in order to accommodate a more straightforward
to accommodate a more straightforward
to accommodate a more straightforward technology biodegradable electronics we
technology biodegradable electronics we
technology biodegradable electronics we risk missing out on a series of exciting
risk missing out on a series of exciting
risk missing out on a series of exciting applications
applications
applications could truly transform our lives for the
could truly transform our lives for the
could truly transform our lives for the better one of my favorite quotes is from
better one of my favorite quotes is from
better one of my favorite quotes is from the great Leonardo da Vinci who once
the great Leonardo da Vinci who once
the great Leonardo da Vinci who once said simplicity is the ultimate
said simplicity is the ultimate
said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and I think what that
sophistication and I think what that
sophistication and I think what that quote tells us so directly is that it’s
quote tells us so directly is that it’s
quote tells us so directly is that it’s not all about complexity and fanciness
not all about complexity and fanciness
not all about complexity and fanciness despite what some people believe what we
despite what some people believe what we
despite what some people believe what we really need most are elegant and
really need most are elegant and
really need most are elegant and open-minded solutions imagine a world in
open-minded solutions imagine a world in
open-minded solutions imagine a world in which you could toss a phone in a
which you could toss a phone in a
which you could toss a phone in a landfill without having to worry about
landfill without having to worry about
landfill without having to worry about pollution imagine a world in which you
pollution imagine a world in which you
pollution imagine a world in which you could glean valuable insight about your
could glean valuable insight about your
could glean valuable insight about your body or the environment with absolutely
body or the environment with absolutely
body or the environment with absolutely no risk of harm 10 minutes ago
no risk of harm 10 minutes ago
no risk of harm 10 minutes ago these might have all sounded like
these might have all sounded like
these might have all sounded like far-fetched futuristic possibilities but
far-fetched futuristic possibilities but
far-fetched futuristic possibilities but I hope all my talk is shown is that
I hope all my talk is shown is that
I hope all my talk is shown is that we’re really not that distant after all
we’re really not that distant after all
we’re really not that distant after all there’s so much we can achieve in
there’s so much we can achieve in
there’s so much we can achieve in transient electronics and Beyond by
transient electronics and Beyond by
transient electronics and Beyond by looking at problems from entirely
looking at problems from entirely
looking at problems from entirely different angles and then using
different angles and then using
different angles and then using straightforward and intuitive approaches
straightforward and intuitive approaches
straightforward and intuitive approaches to come up with effective answers we
to come up with effective answers we
to come up with effective answers we have all this untapped potential imagine
have all this untapped potential imagine
have all this untapped potential imagine what we could do if we finally realized
what we could do if we finally realized
what we could do if we finally realized it Thanks
it Thanks
it Thanks [Applause]
”
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