Qing-Tai Zhao, Yi Han, Hung-Chi Han, Lars R. Schreiber, Tsung-En Lee, Hung-Li Chiang, Iuliana Radu, Christian Enz, Detlev Grützmacher, Christoph Stampfer, Shinichi Takagi, Joachim Knoch
{"title":"Ultra-low-power cryogenic complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology","authors":"Qing-Tai Zhao, Yi Han, Hung-Chi Han, Lars R. Schreiber, Tsung-En Lee, Hung-Li Chiang, Iuliana Radu, Christian Enz, Detlev Grützmacher, Christoph Stampfer, Shinichi Takagi, Joachim Knoch","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00157-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00157-7","url":null,"abstract":"Universal cryogenic computing, encompassing von Neumann, neuromorphic and quantum computing, paves the way for future big-data processing with high energy efficiency. Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology operating at cryogenic temperatures with ultra-low power consumption is a key component of this advancement. However, classical CMOS technology, designed for room temperature applications, suffers from band-tail effects at cryogenic levels, leading to an increased subthreshold swing and decreased mobility values. In addition, threshold voltages are enlarged. Thus, classical CMOS technology fails to meet the low power requirements when cooled close to zero Kelvin. In this Perspective, we show that steep slope cryogenic devices can be realized by screening the band tails with the use of high-k dielectrics and wrap-gate architectures and/or reducing them through the optimization of the surfaces and interfaces within the transistors. Cryogenic device functionality also strongly benefits from appropriate source/drain engineering employing dopant segregation from silicides. Furthermore, the threshold voltage control can be realized with back-gating, work-function engineering and dipole formation. As a major implication, future research and development towards cryogenic CMOS technology requires a combination of these approaches to enable universal cryogenic computing at the necessary ultra-low power levels. Ultra-low-power cryogenic complementary metal oxide semiconductor (cCMOS) technology is crucial for quantum computers. This Perspective highlights the challenges of the state-of-the-art technology and proposes solutions to mitigate band-tail effects, control the threshold voltage and achieve ultra-low-power cCMOS devices.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"277-290"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123140","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":"Nanostructured materials for next-generation display technology","authors":"Xuanyu Zhang, Shuo Ding, Zhaobing Tang, Zhiwei Yao, Ting Zhang, Chaoyu Xiang, Lei Qian","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00158-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00158-6","url":null,"abstract":"Nanostructured materials, such as quantum dots (QDs), metal oxide nanoparticles and metal halide perovskite nanostructures, are promising for next-generation display technology owing to their low-cost solution process, high photoluminescence quantum yield, narrow emission, wide colour gamut and high colour purity. Over the past decade, commercial displays based on QD photoluminescence have been successfully introduced, such as QD-enhanced liquid crystal displays, QD organic light-emitting diodes and QD light-emitting diodes. Electroluminescence (EL) from nanostructured materials represents one of the ultimate goals for future display technology, owing to its high efficiency and simple device structure. However, the electroluminescent application of these nanomaterials is still in its infancy, primarily owing to the instability of blue devices and immature mass-production technologies. This Review introduces the progress of photoluminescent QDs, with a focus on advancements in EL. We explore improvements in materials and device design to enhance EL stability and to examine critical mass-production technologies, including high-resolution display innovations. Finally, we outline future research direction for enhancing operation stability of deep-blue EL. Nanostructured materials, such as quantum dots, are potential candidates for next-generation displays. This Review highlights the degradation mechanisms of devices and points out the strategies that can be used to improve the stability of electroluminescence.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"263-276"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123144","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":"Utilizing oil and gas fields for geothermal energy to accelerate the energy transition","authors":"Zhengguang Liu, Lin Ma","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00161-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00161-x","url":null,"abstract":"Amid geopolitical crises and economic challenges, it is crucial to reassess the future role of fossil fuel resources, particularly oil and gas fields. A promising opportunity now exists to repurpose these fields for geothermal energy, helping to accelerate the energy transition while mitigating the risk of resource stranding.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 7","pages":"444-445"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123047","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":"Wirelessly controlled drug delivery systems for translational medicine","authors":"Xinwei Wei, Yanfang Wang, Huihui Hu, Tao Sheng, Yuejun Yao, Changming Chen, Guangzheng Xu, Kaihui Li, Yuyan Su, Kewang Nan, Jinqiang Wang, Zhen Gu","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00151-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00151-z","url":null,"abstract":"Conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) deliver drugs to specific sites in patients’ bodies, streamlining the drug delivery process of traditional drug prescriptions, but are challenging in dose accuracy, system adaptability and patient compliance. The rapid advancement of wireless bioelectronics technology presents new avenues to develop a class of wirelessly controlled DDSs (Will-DDSs). Featuring wireless control, flexible triggering, miniaturization and integration, Will-DDSs enable controlled and precise drug release profiles at specific sites for personalized treatment. In this Review, we discuss the development in Will-DDSs, focusing on design principles and strategies associated with drug release mechanisms, wireless power supply and communication. Specially, clinical applications ranging from chronic disease management to acute therapeutic interventions are highlighted. Furthermore, we discuss opportunities in adaptability, comprehensiveness and intelligence presented by the integration of Will-DDSs with other advanced technologies as well as the risks and challenges in terms of biosafety, stability and regulation. Wireless bioelectronics integrates untethered controlled-release, wireless power and communication modules into drug delivery systems (DDSs), enabling dynamic, precise drug dosage and release adjustments and shaping the next generation of DDSs — wirelessly controlled DDSs (Will-DDSs).","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"244-262"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123139","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":"Gender inequality in Japanese academia","authors":"Sarah Cosentino","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00165-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00165-7","url":null,"abstract":"Female researchers in Japan face unique challenges caused by cultural and institutional norms, making their career progression more difficult than in other developed countries. Overcoming these barriers and fostering an inclusive academic environment require a systematic approach that includes targeted interventions and clear, enforceable measures to ensure compliance and accountability.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 5","pages":"291-292"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123150","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}
Soroush Vahedi, Junbo Zhao, Brian Pierre, Fangni Lei, Emmanouil Anagnostou, Kang He, Charles Jones, Bin Wang
{"title":"Wildfire and power grid nexus in a changing climate","authors":"Soroush Vahedi, Junbo Zhao, Brian Pierre, Fangni Lei, Emmanouil Anagnostou, Kang He, Charles Jones, Bin Wang","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00150-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00150-0","url":null,"abstract":"Global wildfire events have had increasingly severe impacts in recent years, particularly in the western USA, driven by extreme fire-weather conditions, fuel accumulation and multiple ignition sources. Wildfires sparked by power lines tend to be larger and more destructive, as they often occur during high winds, which accelerate the spread of fires. Moreover, efforts to contain wildfires frequently result in power outages, causing considerable economic disruption. In this Review, we examine wildfire risks related to power-line-induced ignitions, infrastructure damage, climate-induced environmental impacts, grid operational risks, real-time grid management risks, vegetation management risks, and financial and funding risks in the context of a changing climate and their interdependence with power grid infrastructures. We then explore the resilience of power grids under wildfire threats, looking at risk analysis, prediction and mitigation strategies. The Review also shares practical insights and experiences in the USA to inform researchers, policymakers and industry professionals. This Review analyses the growing threat of wildfires to power systems, focusing on power-line-induced ignitions, infrastructure damage and climate-induced risks. It explores wildfire models and resilience strategies, and provides a roadmap for enhancing power grid resilience in the face of escalating wildfire challenges.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"225-243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123138","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}
Qi Huang, Abdelhay Ali, Abdulkadir Celik, Gianluca Setti, Jaafar Elmirghani, Noha Al-Harthi, Khaled N. Salama, Shreyas Sen, Mohammed E. Fouda, Ahmed M. Eltawil
{"title":"Human body communication transceivers","authors":"Qi Huang, Abdelhay Ali, Abdulkadir Celik, Gianluca Setti, Jaafar Elmirghani, Noha Al-Harthi, Khaled N. Salama, Shreyas Sen, Mohammed E. Fouda, Ahmed M. Eltawil","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00160-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00160-y","url":null,"abstract":"Although advances in medical technology have facilitated access to treatments and preventative protocols, health care remains constrained by frequent, multiple doctor visits, disrupting daily routines and burdening medical infrastructure. The Internet of Bodies offers a transformative solution by integrating wearable, implantable, ingestible and injectable devices in, on and around the body and thus enabling seamless connectivity in biomedical applications. Since the term was first introduced in the mid-1990s, the Internet of Bodies has made notable progress owing to advances in miniaturized electronics, flexible substrates and low-power design. A critical component of this development is the introduction of human body communication (HBC), which uses the human body as a transmission medium. By replacing the radio front-end with simple direct skin interfaces, sensing and communication modules become smaller, lighter, more energy-efficient and accessible. In this Review, we focus on the role of HBC transceivers for next-generation health-care and body-area networks. We discuss the fundamental principles of HBC, including signal propagation, channel modelling and performance trade-offs. Key design challenges such as dynamic channel variations, skin–electrode interfaces, interference, safety regulations and energy efficiency are analysed. Additionally, we explore the circuit design techniques that affect HBC performance and adaptability. Advancements in miniaturized electronics, low-power design and deep-learning-driven transceiver architectures are needed to further unlock the potential of HBC systems, paving the way for their widespread adoption in personalized health-care and secure body-centric communication systems. By exchanging messages using the human body as a communication medium, human body communication offers a mean to design low-power, miniature Internet of bodies nodes. Accurate channel modelling and low-power strategies are key to HBC widespread adoption.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 6","pages":"374-389"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123185","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":"Disrupting the DRAM roadmap with capacitor-less IGZO-DRAM technology","authors":"Attilio Belmonte, Gouri Sankar Kar","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00162-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00162-w","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional DRAM technology, with memory bit cells consisting of one silicon transistor and one capacitor, faces major scaling challenges. A new DRAM bit cell without a capacitor and with two thin-film transistors — each with an oxide semiconductor channel such as indium-gallium-zinc-oxide — shows promises for continuing the DRAM technology roadmap, clearing the way for high-density 3D DRAM.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"220-221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123143","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":"Catalysing mathematical, computing and statistical innovation towards applied sciences","authors":"Yefeng Yang, Manman Liu, Malgorzata Lagisz, Shinichi Nakagawa","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00154-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00154-w","url":null,"abstract":"Bridging the divide between mathematical innovations and real-world applications is essential for addressing global challenges. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, diversity and inclusion, we can unlock the full potential of mathematical findings, driving innovation across applied disciplines and delivering mathematical solutions to society’s pressing problems.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"222-224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145123145","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":"A reconfigurable metastructure for wave-based matrix maths","authors":"Miranda L. Vinay","doi":"10.1038/s44287-025-00159-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44287-025-00159-5","url":null,"abstract":"An article in Nature Communications presents a reconfigurable metastructure capable of wave-based analogue computations for linear algebra problems.","PeriodicalId":501701,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"154-154"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639340","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}