HumansInvent has an interesting piece on a laboratory at Oxford University that can “grow” electronics using a process called Molecular Beam Epitaxy. The system, which uses devices straight out of Dr. Bizarro’s Lab, creates a thin substrate of molecules and then builds it up over time, creating circuit boards, solar panels, and the like with lasers.

The system operates in a complete vacuum and can make almost any piece of electronics, including devices that can’t be made by hand.

Also see: Stretchable Electronic Skin from Nokia Research Centre

James Holland writes:

A laser, for example, requires layers of material to be applied with molecular precision to a wafer, or substrate. It’s the nature of that material which gives the laser its colour, and is the building block for CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and many other electronics.
Red lasers, like those used in CD and DVD players, are built on top of gallium arsenide wafers, while blue lasers for Blu-ray devices require a sapphire base on which to grow.

Sharp’s MBE is a much smaller version of those used to manufacture gadgets for commercial production. As intimidating and complex as it looks, this baby MBE is only used for experimental and developmental purposes. It works in an artificial environment similar to the conditions found in space, piecing together bits of material too small to see in order to invent the next generations of cell phones, computers and other techy goodness.

You can read more about the system here and check out the video below.