Electronic devices containing critical or classified information should have a function of remotely controlled self-destruction in case they fall into the wrong hands. One of such technologies of remote self-destruction was developed by researchers from Cornwall University in cooperation with specialists from Honeywell Aerospace. They made a microchip made of silicon dioxide, packed in a shell of polycarbonate. In this shell, microcavities filled with rubidium and sodium bifluoride. When such a device is exposed to radio waves at a certain frequency, tiny nanoclaps are opened based on graphene and nitride compounds. This allows mixing in the cavity reagents and enter into a violent chemical reaction, during which a large amount of heat is released, which evaporates the polycarbonate. "Evaporated polycarbonate reacts with sodium bifluoride and produces hydrofluoric acid, which completely destroys any electronics," write the researchers.

Unlike other self-destructing electronics, the new technology does not require water to dissolve some components and does not need a heating element that raises the temperature of the medium to the desired level. Researchers expect that the technology of "decaying" electronics developed by them will be in demand not only in the field of information security. It can also be successfully used for the production of electronics, environmental monitoring sensors, for example, which will self-destruct after performing their primary function.

Original article: Destroyed from radio waves technique.