Organic electronics
Introduction
Organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive polymers, organic compounds, and small molecules, is a rapidly evolving field. This area of study focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of these organic materials in electronic devices. Organic electronics offer unique properties that can be leveraged in a variety of applications, including flexible displays, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs).
History
The history of organic electronics can be traced back to the 1970s when researchers first began to explore the conductive properties of organic materials. The discovery of conducting polymers by Alan J. Heeger, Alan G. MacDiarmid, and Hideki Shirakawa, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000 for their pioneering work, marked a significant milestone in the field. The development of the first organic light-emitting diodes by Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke in 1987 further propelled the field of organic electronics.
Organic Materials in Electronics
Organic materials used in electronics are primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and can be categorized into two main types: small molecules and polymers.
Small Molecules
Small molecules in organic electronics are typically composed of repeating units of carbon-based compounds. These molecules are often used in the production of OLEDs due to their high thermal stability and efficiency. Examples of small molecules used in organic electronics include anthracene, pentacene, and fullerene.
Polymers
Polymers, on the other hand, are large, chain-like molecules made up of repeating subunits. Conductive polymers such as polyacetylene, polypyrrole, and polythiophene have been extensively used in organic electronics due to their flexibility, processability, and tunable electronic properties.
Organic Electronic Devices
Organic electronic devices leverage the unique properties of organic materials to achieve functionalities that are difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional inorganic materials.
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are a type of LED in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light in response to an electric current. OLEDs are used to create digital displays in devices such as television screens, computer monitors, and portable systems such as smartphones, handheld game consoles, and PDAs.
Organic Photovoltaic Cells
Organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) are a type of solar cell that uses organic electronics, a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules, for light absorption and charge transport to produce electricity from sunlight by the photovoltaic effect.
Organic Field-Effect Transistors
Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are a type of field-effect transistor using an organic semiconductor in its channel. OFETs can be prepared either by vacuum evaporation of small molecules, or by solution-casting of polymers or small molecules.
Advantages and Challenges
Organic electronics offer several advantages over their inorganic counterparts, including mechanical flexibility, low-cost manufacturing, and the potential for environmentally friendly production processes. However, they also face several challenges, including lower efficiency and lifetime, as well as issues related to stability and reliability.
Future Perspectives
The field of organic electronics continues to evolve, with ongoing research focusing on improving the efficiency, stability, and lifetime of organic electronic devices. The development of new organic materials with tailored electronic properties, as well as the design of novel device architectures, are among the key areas of focus in current research.