Transient electronic devices comprising inorganic or hybrid inorganic and organic substrates and encapsulates

A method of using a transient electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing the transient electronic device comprising:
• a substrate;
• one or more active or passive electronic device components supported by said substrate;
• wherein said active or passive electronic device components independently comprise a selectively transformable material;
• and
• an encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulating said one or more active or passive electronic device components;
• wherein said substrate, said encapsulant layer or both independently comprise a selectively removable inorganic material responsive to an external or internal stimulus;
• wherein at least partial removal of said substrate, said encapsulant layer or both in response to said external or internal stimulus initiates at least partial transformation of said one or more active or passive electronic device components providing a programmable transformation of the transient electronic device in response to said external or internal stimulus at a pre-selected time or at a pre-selected rate, wherein said programmable transformation provides a change in function of the transient electronic device from a first condition to a second condition;
• and
• exposing said transient electronic device to said external or internal stimulus resulting in said at least partial removal of said substrate or encapsulant layer to expose said one or more active or passive electronic device components to said external or internal stimulus, thereby providing said programmable transformation of the transient electronic device.

A method of making a transient electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate;
• providing on said substrate one or more active or passive electronic device components;
• wherein said active or passive electronic device components independently comprise a selectively transformable material;
• and
• at least partially encapsulating said one or more active or passive electronic device components with an encapsulant layer;
• wherein said substrate, said encapsulant layer or both independently comprise a selectively removable inorganic material responsive to an external or internal stimulus;
• wherein at least partial removal of said substrate, said encapsulant layer or both in response to said external or internal stimulus initiates at least partial transformation of said one or more active or passive electronic device components providing a programmable transformation of the transient electronic device in response to said external or internal stimulus at a pre-selected time or at a pre-selected rate, wherein said programmable transformation provides a change in function of the transient electronic device from a first condition to a second condition.