How could air revolutionize the world of semiconductors?

How can air revolutionize the world of semiconductors?

Semi-conductors are considered the basis of all modernelectronics, specifically inorganic semiconductors, such as silicon and germanium. Because these elements have better conductive properties than those of all organic semiconductors. However, recently, researchers at Linköping University in Sweden were able to significantly increase the efficiency of organic semiconductors by using air. This study, published in the journal Nature, is an important step in our quest to obtain cheap and sustainable organic semiconductors in the future.

To simplify the matter, semiconductors differ in electrical conductivity from traditional conductors, as the electric current is transmitted through the movement of a stream of electrons that head to the positive pole, accompanied by a stream of holes (with a positive charge) within the atomic structure of the material, and head to the negative pole.

In addition to the above, the transfer of current in semiconductors cannot occur in the pure form of the elements, as their atoms are linked by stable covalent bonds. Therefore impurities of other specific elements are introduced; Until these semiconductors become able to conduct current, in a process known as doping.

Given the clear superiority of these conductive properties, the reliance is almost entirely on inorganic semiconductors, but new research can provide a solution that makes organic semiconductors a strong competitor in this vital industry.

The new method could significantly impact the way we deal with organic semiconductors, as these conductors are considered affordable, easily obtainable, and potentially environmentally friendly, which is a prerequisite for sustainable electronics in the future.

Organic semiconductors – such as some types of plastics – can represent an alternative to silicon, and can be used in many applications, such as digital displays,solar cells, LED lights, sensors, and energy storage solutions.

The problem here is that the semiconductor industry requires the doping process that we referred to previously, which necessarily requires the use of some materials (impurities). However, the biggest problem here is that most of the materials currently used in this process are either highly reactive (unstable), or expensive, or difficult to manufacture, or all three. Together.

To overcome this problem, researchers at Linköping University have developed a new method for vaccination, which can be carried out at room temperature, using essentially inactive materials such as oxygen, while using light to activate the process.

The new method involves immersing the conductive plastic in a special salt solution (photocatalyst), then exposing it to light for a short time, so that the duration of exposure to light determines the degree of grafting. After this the solution is recovered; For future use, leaving behind electrically conductive plastic.

What is interesting is that the organic semiconductors that have been doped using this method have better electrical conductivity than conventional semiconductors, which will open new horizons for sustainable semiconductor manufacturing.