Future Trends in Microelectronics

2.8

Scribing Graphene Circuits

N. Rodriguez, R. J. Ruiz, C. Marquez and F. Gamiz

Department of Electronics, CITIC-UGR, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

1 Introduction

When it comes to functionality, the pace of evolution in the electronics industry is stunning: most of the devices surrounding us would have seemed science-fiction-like a decade ago. The laptop, that once was one of the most advanced electronic products for the general public, has given way to tablets, smartphones, and smartwatches … that equal its processing power. The objective that science must pursue is to make sure that this insatiable (and growing) technological mass does not become a pathogen for our society: technology must be at the service of human beings instead of the other way around. Clearly, one of the aims of electronics in the coming years must be the creation of a better symbiosis with people and, in particular, more natural integration to support our everyday activities (including communication, health, protection, and work). In that respect, since its discovery, graphene¹ has certainly become one of the most shining materials for the scientific community and a popular candidate for the podium of the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). In particular, its mechanical, optical, and electrical properties make graphene a great fit for applications in flexible electronics. From this prospective, graphene features key properties for its natural integration in our lives: elasticity, deformability, ...