Chinese scientists have created transparent electronics that are resistant to radiation.

Chinese scientists have unveiled “invisible” electronics for space

Fudan University has introduced a new method to make the chips used in satellites virtually immune to cosmic radiation. Conventional semiconductors are damaged by high‑energy particles, but if the transistor layer is only one atom thick, an incoming particle simply “passes through” and does not cause harm.

What was done
* Monolayer MoS₂ – researchers employed monocrystalline two‑dimensional molybdenum disulfide. On a 10‑cm wafer of this material they fabricated fully functional radio communication: transmitters and receivers operating in the 12–18 GHz band.

* Production process – from layer growth to metal deposition, transistor channel creation and isolation. Everything was carried out on a single atomic layer.

Testing
1. Laboratory

*Gamma irradiation* up to 10 Mrad (Si).

Result: almost no degradation – turn‑on/off currents remain high, leakage is minimal.

2. Space flight

*Satellite in low Earth orbit* (~517 km) operated for 9 months with no noticeable changes.

- BER consistently < 10⁻⁸ (significantly better than in conventional systems).

- Successful data transmission, even including the university’s anthem.

What this means
* Longevity – authors predict up to 270 years of operation at geostationary orbit, where the radiation background is dozens of times higher.

* Practical value – the technology enables the creation of ultra‑lightweight and compact electronics for deep space, high orbits, and interplanetary missions. Traditional silicon chips wear out quickly and require heavy radiation shielding; now this can be circumvented.

In short: a single atomic layer of MoS₂ makes satellite electronics “invisible” to cosmic particles, paving the way for more reliable and cost‑effective systems in extreme environments.