The Impact

Modern electronics are everywhere, yet they still rely on a fragile assumption: constant access to external power. Batteries add weight, require maintenance, and limit how small, adaptable, and scalable devices can become. LEAF starts from this constraint and rethinks it at the system level.
Instead of supplying energy from the outside, LEAF integrates it directly into the device. By combining energy harvesting and storage within ultrathin materials, it enables systems that can operate autonomously. Light becomes both input and resource, while micro-scale supercapacitors store and deliver energy exactly where it is needed.
This approach transforms how electronics are designed. Rather than assembling rigid components, LEAF builds functionality into micrometer-thin layers that can be printed, shaped, and integrated onto surfaces. These systems can adapt to complex geometries and retain their performance even after transformation into compact 3D structures.
The result is a new class of lightweight, flexible devices that can be deployed at scale. Functionality can be embedded directly into materials and environments, enabling seamless sensing and communication without adding bulk or complexity.
Sustainability is embedded in this design. By maximizing functional material and minimizing inactive mass, LEAF reduces resource use and waste. Printable fabrication processes and light-driven operation further lower environmental impact, supporting a more efficient model of electronics.
At a broader level, LEAF contributes to the development of scalable, autonomous systems and strengthens Europe’s capacity to design and manufacture next-generation technologies aligned with digital and environmental priorities.