Semiconductors need no introduction! They can be found in every electronic device and even are a core of the AI industry. With the recent technological advances, the need and demand for compact and efficient is increasing. Also, the semiconductor manufacturing industry is a major contributor to global pollution.
Organic semiconductors are composed of carbon-based molecules, and pi-bonded molecules that are made up of hydrocarbons along with heteroatoms. According to the Consegic Business Intelligence, the global organic semiconductor market size is projected to reach over USD 712.76 Billion by 2031. Another type of semiconductor which are widely used is inorganic semiconductors. Inorganic semiconductors are made up of non-carbon materials like silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide. They are used in electronic devices as transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, etc. The materials used have high electric conductivity contributing to their usage in the electronics industry.
However, inorganic semiconductors have various challenges such as high manufacturing costs, low power, difficulty in fabrication, high-temperature processing, etc. Organic semiconductors can overcome all these challenges. As organic semiconductors are made up of hydrocarbons with heteroatoms, they have a range of materials that can be used for manufacturing which reduces the producing costs. Organic semiconductors are more flexible than inorganic semiconductors as they have low elastic modulus and have a tendency to be deformable. Having low elastic modulus also can reduce the interfacial stresses making the material preferable for flexible electronics.
Another main advantage of organic semiconductors is the ease of fabrication. Fabrication, the process of manufacturing individual chips that aggregate to form larger electronic devices, is simpler with organic materials. This simplicity stems from the solution-based processing techniques used for organic semiconductors, which are less complex and less energy-intensive compared to the high-temperature vacuum-based processes required for inorganic semiconductors.
Furthermore, organic semiconductors can be processed at low temperatures, which not only conserves energy but also allows for the use of flexible plastic substrates instead of rigid silicon wafers. This opens up possibilities for new applications, such as wearable electronics and flexible displays, which are not feasible with traditional inorganic semiconductors.
Despite these advantages, organic semiconductors are not without their own set of challenges. They generally have lower electrical conductivity and stability compared to inorganic semiconductors. This limitation restricts their use in high-performance applications. However, ongoing research is focused on improving the electrical properties and environmental stability of organic semiconductors, making them increasingly competitive with their inorganic counterparts.
The future of semiconductor technology may likely see a combination of both organic and inorganic materials, leveraging the strengths of each to meet the growing demands of the electronics industry. As research and development continue, organic semiconductors have the potential to play a significant role in the evolution of electronic devices, offering more sustainable and versatile alternatives to traditional inorganic semiconductors.
