Self-destructing chips potential propulsion source

Professor Michael Sailor, head of the project, said: "We're making a silicon nanocrystal which has such a high surface area that it burns very quickly. The faster the burn, the bigger the bang."

A post-doctoral researcher accidentally discovered the explosive effects of substituting potassium nitrate with gadolinium nitrate while working with porous silicon wafers.

The team believes that the absence of chemical impurities makes the gadolinium- and silicon-based explosive ideal for use in devices that perform rapid chemical analysis of elements in the field.

Prof Sailor said: "When you're out in the field, you can do flame emission spectrometry instantaneously with a device that fits in the palm of your hand."

Another potential application is as a propulsion source for micro-electrical mechanical systems.

Prof Sailor said: "Suppose you have a computer chip collecting information on the ground and, 10 minutes later, you want it to flip over, self-destruct or ignite so that it will show up.

"You just send the tiny voltages already flowing in the chip through the part of the chip that contains the blasting cap."