According to some studies, a coffee ingredient may be able make semiconductors run more quickly. Research (opens new tab) From the Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Institute (AIST) in Japan.
Through a process called vacuum deposition, researchers created a thin layer (or caffeic acid) on a gold electrode in an organic semiconductor.
This was reportedly able boost the semiconductor’s current by up to 100x, as measured using the Kelvin probe process.
How did it all work?
According to the research, after the thin layer of caffeic acid formed on the electrode surface, the caffeic acid molecules spontaneously lined up on the electrode surface, enabling faster current flow.
This breakthrough by Japanese researchers could have practical applications, even though it won’t allow you to spill coffee on your mobile device to improve your rendering speed.
These include the creation of fully sustainable organic semiconductors, which could be made entirely with biomass-derived material.
Organic semiconductors, such organic light-emitting diodes and organic solar cell (OPVs), are already available. However, the researchers highlighted the environmental impacts of disposing of these technologies.
Researchers pointed out the current implementations of electrode modification layers. These are used to accelerate the flow of electric charge within semiconductors. They also highlighted how these materials could “adversely affect aquatic organisms”.
According to the researcher, caffeic acid can be made entirely from plants and could decrease the need for unsustainable chemicals when producing semiconductors.
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