Climate Insider Brief:
- Linköping University researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to enhance the conductivity of organic semiconductors by using air as a dopant, published in Nature.
- Inspired by natural processes like photosynthesis, the method employs light to activate a photocatalyst, which facilitates electron transfer from inefficient dopants to organic semiconductor materials, thus improving conductivity.
- The process, conducted at room temperature, allows for simultaneous doping of both p-doped and n-doped semiconductors, streamlining production and offering superior conductivity compared to traditional methods, marking a significant advancement in organic electronics.
Semiconductors lie at the core of contemporary electronics, and a recent breakthrough from Linköping University in Sweden promises to enhance the conductivity of organic semiconductors using an unconventional dopant: air. Published in the esteemed journal Nature, this innovation represents a significant stride towards affordable and eco-friendly organic semiconductors, underpinning the future of sustainable electronics.
Led by Simone Fabiano, an associate professor at Linköping University, the research team devised a method to augment the conductivity of organic semiconductors by employing air as a dopant. Fabiano notes, “We believe this method could significantly influence the way we dope organic semiconductors. All components are affordable, easily accessible, and potentially environmentally friendly, which is a prerequisite for future sustainable electronics.”
Unlike conventional semiconductors predominantly reliant on silicon, those derived from conductive plastics offer a myriad of applications spanning digital displays, solar cells, LEDs, sensors, implants, and energy storage. The key to enhancing their conductivity lies in the introduction of dopants, substances facilitating the movement of electrical charges within the semiconductor material.
Traditionally, dopants have been reactive, costly, or challenging to produce. However, the novel approach devised by Linköping University researchers circumvents these limitations. Leveraging inspiration from natural processes like photosynthesis, their method employs light to activate a photocatalyst, which then catalyzes electron transfer from a typically inefficient dopant to the organic semiconductor material.
The process involves immersing the conductive plastic into a special salt solution acting as a photocatalyst and subsequently illuminating it with light. The duration of illumination determines the degree of doping, with oxygen from the air serving as the primary dopant. Remarkably, the entire process can be conducted at room temperature.
Crucially, the photocatalyst acts as an “electron shuttle,” facilitating electron transfer in the presence of sacrificial weak oxidants or reductants. This approach, novel to organic electronics, not only enhances conductivity but also simplifies production processes. For instance, it enables the simultaneous doping of both p-doped and n-doped semiconductors, streamlining the fabrication of electronic devices such as thermoelectric generators.
Moreover, the doped organic semiconductor exhibits superior conductivity compared to traditional counterparts, with the scalability of the process offering promising prospects for large-scale production. Earlier in 2024, Fabiano and his research group demonstrated the feasibility of processing conductive plastics from environmentally friendly solvents like water, marking a significant advancement in sustainable materials.
As Fabiano elucidates, “We are at the beginning of trying to fully understand the mechanism behind it and what other potential application areas exist. But it’s a very promising approach showing that photocatalytic doping is a new cornerstone in organic electronics.”
In essence, the groundbreaking research from Linköping University not only unlocks new avenues for enhancing semiconductor conductivity but also underscores the transformative potential of eco-friendly approaches in shaping the future of electronics.
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SOURCE: EurekAlert!
Featured Image: Credit: Thor Balkhed
