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KIST Unveils Water-Triggered Biodegradable Memory Polymer

KIST’s new polymer dissolves in water within three days to trigger self-erasure in high-performance memory devices.

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Overview

  • The material, named PCL-TEMPO, pairs a data-storing organic radical (TEMPO) with biodegradable polycaprolactone to combine performance and natural decay.
  • Tests showed the memory device distinguishes on/off states for over one million cycles, retains data for more than 10,000 seconds, and endures 250 write-erase cycles and 3,000 bends without failure.
  • Engineers can tune the onset of degradation by adjusting the thickness and composition of a protective layer, ensuring biocompatibility and safe use in medical implants.
  • Applications span disposable healthcare monitors, self-dissolving surgical implants, eco-friendly data storage and one-time military reconnaissance tools.
  • The team plans to advance the technology into intelligent transient electronics by integrating self-healing and photo-responsive functions.