{"title":"A statistical-field approach to electron transport in semiconductor nanodevices","authors":"Yuan-Chi Yang, Hsiu-Hau Lin, Szuya Sandy Liao","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00192-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00192-4","url":null,"abstract":"In nanoscale semiconductor devices, not only do electron–electron interactions require proper treatment but heat transport must also be integrated coherently. In this Perspective, we propose a paradigm shift: to treat electron transport using a three-part phase diagram that includes diffusive, ballistic and viscous electron-fluid regimes and to adopt a statistical-field approach to extend the tools for analysis, including the drift–diffusion model. The statistical-field approach posits that semiconductor devices — as open quantum systems characterized by fluctuating energy and particle numbers — can achieve local equilibrium through frequent microscopic collisions of electrons. The corresponding statistical fields emerge — specifically, spatial and temporal variations in temperature and chemical potential, which dictate the flows of energy and particles. The quantum nature of these statistical fields enables a seamless integration of quantum complexities, and the approach naturally incorporates heat dissipation in a self-consistent theoretical framework (although the proper modelling of boundary conditions requires further attention). We highlight the critical need to identify the transport regime in which short-channel nanodevices operate, to be able to build accurate simulators that will drive device design and optimization. This Perspective sets out an approach to electron transport in nanoscale devices based on statistical fields — specifically the spatial and temporal variations in temperature and chemical potential that drive energy and particle flow — and highlights the importance of identifying the transport regime, which might be diffusive, ballistic or viscous.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"614-620"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mutual promotion of triboelectric nanogenerators and field-effect transistors towards the IoT","authors":"Wenlong Ma, Yaxue Sun, Congyu Wang, Peng Wang","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00193-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00193-3","url":null,"abstract":"The real-world deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures faces high energy demands. To tackle this demand, triboelectric nanogenerators and field-effect transistors (FETs) led to the emergence of tribotronic transistors that enable active mechanosensation by converting mechanical stimuli into tribo-potential, and droplet electricity generators (DEGs) that enhance the efficiency of raindrop energy harvesting through the bulk effect of FET-inspired architectures. In this Review, we explore the working mechanisms and design principles of tribotronic transistors and DEGs, highlighting the key scientific and technical challenges that must be overcome for their seamless integration into global IoT networks. We highlight the development of advanced devices for IoT data collection, memory and processing, and ambient energy harvesting in near-perpetual IoT networks, facilitating advancements in IoT applications including tactile sensors, artificial synapses, energy harvesters and self-powered sensors. Finally, we discuss key areas requiring further study, including understanding fundamental mechanisms, optimizing system design and addressing practical challenges in the application of tribotronic transistors and DEGs for large-scale IoT networks and self-powered sensors. This Review outlines the co-development of triboelectric nanogenerators and field-effect transistors into tribotronic transistors and droplet energy generators, which can harvest energy from small mechanical motion to power the Internet of Things.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 8","pages":"541-554"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sen Tan, Peilin Xie, Juan C. Vasquez, Josep M. Guerrero
{"title":"Developments, challenges and future opportunities in cybersecure microgrid control","authors":"Sen Tan, Peilin Xie, Juan C. Vasquez, Josep M. Guerrero","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00189-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00189-z","url":null,"abstract":"Microgrids are a cornerstone of modern energy infrastructure, but the increase in digitalization presents security challenges. Cyberattacks can target various microgrid components and have the potential to disrupt operations and compromise data integrity, leading to faults, power blackouts or even physical damage. To safeguard the operation and reliability of microgrids, defence mechanisms, including detection and mitigation strategies, are being advanced. The complexity of the cybersecurity landscape, owing to the diversity of microgrid models, configurations and control algorithms, as well as the types of cyberattack and target locations, presents numerous challenges and opportunities. This Review surveys the key developments and challenges in securing microgrids against cyber threats, with a focus on microgrid control. The fundamental structure and vulnerabilities of cyber–physical microgrids are outlined, and the potential impact of cyberattacks is examined. Methods for attack detection and mitigation are identified and categorized based on microgrid modelling approaches and control objectives. Finally, emerging defence technologies and promising research opportunities in microgrid cybersecurity are highlighted. Digitalization is increasing the cyber threat to microgrids. This Review discusses the vulnerabilities of cyber–physical microgrids and examines the cyberattack detection methods and mitigation strategies being developed to increase the cybersecurity of microgrid control.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 8","pages":"522-540"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Martina Corsi, Elena Bellotti, Salvatore Surdo, Giuseppe Barillaro
{"title":"Implantable bioresorbable electronic systems for sustainable precision medicine","authors":"Martina Corsi, Elena Bellotti, Salvatore Surdo, Giuseppe Barillaro","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00190-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00190-6","url":null,"abstract":"Implantable bioresorbable electronic systems — comprising miniature devices that sense, process and respond to physiological cues — are reshaping precision medicine. These systems provide real-time monitoring of vital signs, biochemical markers and disease-specific indicators within the body and wirelessly transmit data that enable timely, personalized interventions. Constructed from biodegradable materials, the devices safely dissolve after completing their function, which eliminates the need for surgical removal and reduces complications. These factors position bioresorbable electronics at the forefront of sustainable and environmentally conscious technologies for personalized medicine. This Perspective describes advances in implantable bioresorbable electronics and highlights the transformative potential of these systems, their diverse medical applications and their substantial effects on healthcare. An ideal architecture for implantable bioresorbable systems is outlined and the components that provide sensing, stimulation, electronic processing, power generation and system encapsulation are described. The materials, architectures and integration strategies of each component type are discussed in detail to highlight current capabilities and emerging innovations. Critical challenges of biocompatibility, data fidelity, energy sustainability and triggered degradation that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of these technologies are also discussed. Bioresorbable electronic systems that overcome these hurdles could revolutionize patient-centred healthcare and extend the reach of sustainable electronic technologies. Implantable bioresorbable electronic systems are revolutionizing precision medicine with real-time health monitoring, targeted interventions and biodegradability. This Perspective discusses architectural designs, key functional components, challenges and the transformative potential of sustainable electronics in patient-centred care.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 8","pages":"572-583"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Corey Lammie, Hadjer Benmeziane, William Simon, Elena Ferro, Athanasios Vasilopoulos, Julian Büchel, Manuel Le Gallo, Irem Boybat, Abu Sebastian
{"title":"Deep learning software stacks for analogue in-memory computing-based accelerators","authors":"Corey Lammie, Hadjer Benmeziane, William Simon, Elena Ferro, Athanasios Vasilopoulos, Julian Büchel, Manuel Le Gallo, Irem Boybat, Abu Sebastian","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00187-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00187-1","url":null,"abstract":"Analogue in-memory computing (AIMC) is an emerging computational paradigm that can efficiently accelerate the key operations in deep learning (DL) inference workloads. Heterogeneous architectures, which integrate both AIMC tiles and digital processing units, have been proposed to enable the end-to-end execution of various deep neural network models. However, developing a software stack for these architectures is challenging, owing to their distinct characteristics — such as the need for extensive or complete weight stationarity and pipelined execution across layers, if maximum performance is to be achieved. Moreover, AIMC tiles are inherently stochastic and hence introduce a combination of stochastic and deterministic noise, which adversely affects accuracy. As a result, existing tools for software stack development are not directly applicable. In this Perspective, we give an overview of the key attributes of DL software stacks and AIMC-based accelerators, outline the challenges associated with designing DL software stacks for AIMC-based accelerators and present opportunities for future research. Analogue in-memory computing (AIMC), with digital processing, forms a useful architecture for performant end-to-end execution of deep neural network models, but requires the development of sophisticated software stacks. This Perspective outlines the challenges in designing deep learning software stacks for AIMC-based accelerators, and suggests directions for future research.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 9","pages":"621-633"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Robots mimic rat whiskers for odour-source localization","authors":"Silvia Conti","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00195-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00195-1","url":null,"abstract":"An article in Science Advances presents a bioinspired artificial vibrissal system for wind-source tracking in search-and-rescue and environmental monitoring applications.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 7","pages":"446-446"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Low-dimensional low-symmetric semiconductors for polarization-sensitive photodetection","authors":"Kaiyao Xin, Ziqi Zhou, Siqi Qiu, Tingwei Liu, Yali Yu, Juehan Yang, Weida Hu, Zhongming Wei","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00183-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00183-5","url":null,"abstract":"Optoelectronics has evolved from fundamental materials to multifunctional integrated systems, yet photon manipulation remains in its early stages. Low-dimensional low-symmetric (LDLS) semiconductors, with atomic thickness and structural anisotropy, enable multidimensional photodetection, including the intensity, wavelength and polarization. Despite success for on-chip integration, challenges in large-scale, high-quality material synthesis and array construction hinder their application in high-resolution focal-plane imaging. In this Perspective, we examine the development of LDLS semiconductors for polarization-sensitive photodetection, outlining the physics of their anisotropic photoresponse. We then discuss key obstacles to large-scale integration in optoelectronic circuits and explore potential solutions. Finally, we highlight research directions to advance the on-chip integration of low-dimensional optoelectronics. This Perspective explores one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) low-dimensional low-symmetric (LDLS) semiconductors for use in polarization-sensitive photodetectors, focusing on their material properties, scalability and commercial applications in imaging, communication, navigation and computing from single device level to complex multifunctional arrays.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 7","pages":"480-493"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating solar-powered electric vehicles into sustainable energy systems","authors":"Thomas Tongxin Li, Alexis Pengfei Zhao, Yuchuan Wang, Shuangqi Li, Jiaqiang Fei, Zhaoyu Wang, Yue Xiang","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00181-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00181-7","url":null,"abstract":"The integration of solar electric vehicles (solar EVs) into energy systems offers a promising solution to achieving sustainable mobility and reducing CO2 emissions. This emerging field leverages advances in photovoltaic technology, EV design, battery innovations and energy management strategies. In this Review, we explore the potential of solar EVs to enhance energy efficiency, promote renewable energy use and contribute to the decarbonization of the power and transport sectors. We discuss the benefits of incorporating photovoltaic systems into EVs, such as reduced grid dependency and increased vehicle autonomy, and examine strategies for optimizing integration, including advancements in battery technology. The Review also addresses the challenges of grid adaptation, policy development and the need for supportive infrastructure, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research and technological innovation. A roadmap for the sustainable integration of solar EVs into energy systems is presented, offering insights into the future of energy-efficient and decarbonized transportation. This Review discusses the integration of solar electric vehicles into energy systems, highlighting their potential to enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions and support transport decarbonization through innovations in photovoltaics, batteries and energy management, while outlining key challenges and a roadmap for sustainable adoption.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 7","pages":"467-479"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Slime-like hydrogel-based e-skin patch for sensing human health","authors":"Ophelia Bu","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00186-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00186-2","url":null,"abstract":"An article in Advanced Functional Materials presents a conductive hydrogel-based electronic skin with high flexibility, sensitivity and biocompatibility for human health sensing.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 6","pages":"373-373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}