美国弗吉尼亚联邦大学的科学家日前宣称,他们开发出一种或许是世界上能耗最低的集成电路。这种电路所需的能量极少,甚至没有必要为其安装电池,从周围环境获取的微量能量就已足够维持运行。研究人员称,该技术有望在植入式医疗设备、浮标和环境检测等领域发挥重要作用。这种电路使用了一种被称为“多铁性材料”的特殊复合材料,由压电材料和磁致伸缩的纳米磁铁组成。这种结构的材料能够将环境中的机械能或振动 Scientists at the Federal University of Virginia in the United States claimed a few days ago that they have developed an integrated circuit that may be the lowest energy consumption in the world. This circuit requires very little or no battery power, and the trace energy available from the ambient environment is sufficient to maintain operation. The researchers said the technology is expected to play an important role in areas such as implantable medical devices, buoys and environmental testing. This circuit uses a special composite called “multiferroic material ” consisting of a piezoelectric material and a magnetostrictive nano-magnet. This structured material is capable of mechanically or vibrating the environment