Organic Semiconductor
A team of scientists developed a semiconductor containing biodegradable organic material, the thickness of which allows cell phones and displays to be flexible.
"For the first time we have developed an ultra-thin electronic component with excellent semiconductor properties. It is an organic and inorganic hybrid structure flexible and thin enough to be used in future cell phone and screen technologies," said Larry Lu of the Australian National University.
In addition, the organic part of this semiconductor is biodegradable and can be easily recycled, which would reduce the 200,000 tons of electronic waste Australia produces each year.
Its hybrid structure makes it possible to convert electricity into light efficiently for use in cell phones, television screens and other electronic devices.
"With these semiconductors we have the potential to make phones as powerful as today's supercomputers," said Ankur Sharma, another of the researchers, who pointed out that the light emission from this device is so clear that it can be used in high-resolution displays.
The organic component of this invention has the thickness of an atom, made of carbon and hydrogen, while the inorganic is about two atoms, according to this study published in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.
The organic component of this semiconductor was made molecule by molecule, in a way similar to 3D printing, in a process called chemical vapor deposition.
ANU engineers focus on large-scale production of this component for future commercialization.