Plastic electronics: Ushering in the next generation of technology

From cat's whisker detectors in the early 20th century to the electronic circuit chips in modern cell phones, electronic devices have been modified in a variety of creative ways to suit the needs of mankind. In addition to increasing the efficiency of commonly used semiconductors such as silicon, recent research has focused on researching cheaper semiconductor materials. In line with these requirements, a recent publication in Nature Materials has successfully optimized inexpensive semiconductor materials that are very similar in composition to plastic to conduct electricity more efficiently than before.

Solar cells have the ability to convert sunlight into electrical energy. This is a renewable energy source, and scientists have tried to make solar cells more efficient in order to maximize the use of the sunlight we receive. While silicon is a widely used semiconductor material in modern solar cells, much research has been directed towards experimenting with combinations of silicon with other materials to increase the efficiency of a solar cell. Other endeavors include the use of novel materials that can be modified to convert sunlight into energy. One such class of materials to experiment with is similar to plastic. Although these materials offer more space for their structure and function to be coordinated, they have not yet been able to compete with existing silicon-based semiconductor components in terms of efficiency.

In this study, researchers attempt to increase the conductivity of this plastic material with the help of two inexpensive and readily available chemicals: dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and hydrobromic acid (HBr). As a result of the chemical reactions in the semiconductor material, one of the byproducts formed is water, which makes this reaction quite clean. In addition, the components of this structure are readily available and inexpensive, making it economically viable. The cost of this material is 5000 times less than the existing class of material used for the same purpose.

The researchers involved in this study, led by Pabitra Nayak from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Hyderabad, found that this new semiconductor device conducts current even after prolonged operation at 100 ° C. The researchers have demonstrated the use of this method in the manufacture of the latest generation of the latest generation of solar cells, transistors and light emitters. While this new method holds promise for the development of the next generation of solar cells, it can also improve the display quality in cell phones and high definition television. Aside from these uses, this material can potentially become a game changer in the development of devices such as wearable electronics, biosensors, and bioelectronics.

While the reported chemical partnership is good news, this study also opens up several avenues to explore how to make more efficient semiconductors with the right mix of compatible chemicals to further enhance the existing class of electronic devices.

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