Biodegradable Silicon-Based Electromagnetic Energy Harvester toward Wireless Power Supply

Transient electronics that can degrade after fulfilling their designed functionalities offer transformative potentials in biomedical implants (eliminating secondary surgeries), ecofriendly consumer electronics (reducing e-waste), and secure systems. However, the development of reliable transient energy supplies remains a critical challenge, thus limiting their widespread implementation. Among various solutions, wireless power supplies via near-field inductive coupling stand out as particularly promising candidates. Nevertheless, currently available demonstrations mainly involve metal-based coils for harvesting electromagnetic energy, and the rapid dissolution rate will significantly restrict their operational lifetime and practical applications. To overcome this critical challenge, we pioneer a biodegradable electromagnetic energy harvester based on heavily doped silicon membranes. Dissolution studies reveal a remarkable increase in the functional lifetime compared to that of conventional magnesium-based counterparts, while they completely disappear under accelerated degradation evaluation. This work establishes a reliable platform for wireless power supplies with potential applications in chronic disease management, long-term electronic implants, and sustainable green electronics.