McCaskill John S, Karnaushenko Daniil, Zhu Minshen, Schmidt Oliver G
Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany.
Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany.
Adv Mater. 2023 Dec;35(51):e2306344. doi: 10.1002/adma.202306344. Epub 2023 Oct 9.
Microelectronic morphogenesis is the creation and maintenance of complex functional structures by microelectronic information within shape-changing materials. Only recently has in-built information technology begun to be used to reshape materials and their functions in three dimensions to form smart microdevices and microrobots. Electronic information that controls morphology is inheritable like its biological counterpart, genetic information, and is set to open new vistas of technology leading to artificial organisms when coupled with modular design and self-assembly that can make reversible microscopic electrical connections. Three core capabilities of cells in organisms, self-maintenance (homeostatic metabolism utilizing free energy), self-containment (distinguishing self from nonself), and self-reproduction (cell division with inherited properties), once well out of reach for technology, are now within the grasp of information-directed materials. Construction-aware electronics can be used to proof-read and initiate game-changing error correction in microelectronic self-assembly. Furthermore, noncontact communication and electronically supported learning enable one to implement guided self-assembly and enhance functionality. Here, the fundamental breakthroughs that have opened the pathway to this prospective path are reviewed, the extent and way in which the core properties of life can be addressed are analyzed, and the potential and indeed necessity of such technology for sustainable high technology in society is discussed.
微电子形态发生是指通过形状可变材料中的微电子信息创造和维持复杂功能结构。直到最近，内置信息技术才开始被用于在三维空间中重塑材料及其功能，以形成智能微器件和微型机器人。控制形态的电子信息像其生物学对应物——遗传信息一样是可遗传的，并且当与能够进行可逆微观电连接的模块化设计和自组装相结合时，有望开启通向人造生物体的新技术前景。生物体中细胞的三项核心能力，即自我维持（利用自由能进行稳态代谢）、自我包容（区分自我与非自我）和自我繁殖（具有遗传特性的细胞分裂），曾经是技术遥不可及的，现在却已在信息导向材料的掌控之中。具备构建意识 的电子学可用于在微电子自组装中进行校对并启动具有变革性的纠错。此外，非接触通信和电子支持学习能够实现引导式自组装并增强功能。在此，我们回顾了开启这条前景之路的重大突破，分析了能够实现生命核心特性的程度和方式，并讨论了此类技术对于社会可持续高科技的潜力以及实际必要性。
