In the future, technology will evolve to the point where electronics will no longer need to be kept in pockets or wrapped around the wrist like smartwatches. Instead, they could be stuck to one’s skin like a transparent plaster. The field to make such bizarre possibilities a reality is known as organic electronics. It derives its name from the word ‘organic’ semiconductors, comprised of carbon material rather than silicon. Optoelectronic skins are one of the recent developments in this sector. Although much remains to be explored within the field, organic electronics have become widely popular in today’s technological world.
In the latest attempt to create “optoelectronic skin,” a research team has built an LED display as a brand new addition within the sector. The developed technology can immensely contribute to the Organic Electronics Market as it is ultra-thin, flexible, and can be worn at the user’s back of the hand.
For several years, the electrical performance of semiconducting plastics and small molecules has trailed behind non-organic-based semiconductors. Such inorganic semiconductors are widely used in modern computer chips. Nevertheless, the sector is rapidly developing new and exciting commercial applications due to constant research and development within organic semiconductors relating to good performance.
Three ways in which organic electronics have been included within present-day technology, including the one brought forth by the current research, are –
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OLEDs (Organic Light-emitting diodes) are the most significant achievement regarding organic electronics till now. These applications have been integrated into some high-end smartphones and TVs. The technology is essentially a sandwich of one or more organic semiconductors pressed between layers. These layers supply different electrical charges to the semiconductor. When these charges meet in the middle of the sandwich, they merge to emit light. This technology is now being considered as a viable option for lightening homes.
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OLEDs are also extremely popular in displays, especially with TV manufacturers, as they generate light directly. This denotes that the need for white backlight and filter found in other systems gets eliminated. Thus, manufacturers use OLED to make their overall display thinner. Further, the technology also opens up the possibility of creating a flexible display. Several manufacturers are currently developing ways of launching bendable products in the next few years.
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The technology can transform light into electricity when it is integrated into solar panels. Through printing processes, OLED can be easily made on thin plastic sheets. The concept reduces manufacturing costs as they can be stuck to any surface or objects and act as a ready-made power source.
All these advances are taking place all over the world. There is still a vast potential amassed within the sector of organic electronics, and so these materials promise an excellent future for novel technologies.