Silica Thou Art and Unto Silica Shalt Thou Return: The silicon life cycle begins with quartz sand (silica) processed into wafers, serving as a semiconductor source and energetic fuel, potentially ending up as silica. This study introduces how Si-air batteries, powered by silicon, could energize transient electronics, enabling partial self-destruction for enhanced data security and limited device lifespan – an innovative application merging energy storage and electronics.

Abstract

With growing demand for energy storage alternatives, silicon-air batteries have gained attention due to their impressive theoretical specific energy (8470 Wh kg_Si ⁻¹) and theoretical specific capacity (3820 mAh g_Si ⁻¹). Although current challenges, such as corrosion, low anode mass conversion efficiency, and limited power output, restrict their practical use and commercialization potential, the ongoing advancement of materials and efficient electronic components open up a range of potential applications for Silicon-air (Si-air) batteries. This study investigates the feasibility of employing a single alkaline or non-aqueous silicon-air battery to power low-power transient electronic device. Initially, their electrochemical behavior, corrosion parameters, and performance were assessed, yielding crucial parameters for the circuit design. Short-term galvanostatic discharge experiments demonstrated the effective operation of Si-air battery under varying current densities in both electrolytes without passivation issues. Subsequently, a proof-of-concept for self-consumed and self-destructive transient electronic device is presented, wherein a full-cell Si-air battery with non-aqueous and aqueous electrolytes was operated while powering a light-emitting diode (LED) as a practical illustrative application.