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An ingredient found naturally in coffee could make semiconductors run faster, he says Research (opens in new tab) from the Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan.
The researchers formed a thin layer of caffeic acid on a gold electrode in an organic semiconductor, through a process known as vacuum deposition.
This was reportedly able to increase the semiconductor’s current up to 100 times, measured through a process called the Kelvin probe method.
How did the process go?
According to the research, after the thin layer of caffeic acid formed on the electrode surface, the caffeic acid molecules spontaneously landed on the electrode surface, enabling faster current flow.
While this doesn’t mean you can spill coffee on your mobile workstation to boost your rendering times, Japanese researchers think this breakthrough could have some practical applications.
These include the development of fully sustainable organic semiconductor devices, which may be made entirely from biomass materials.
While organic semiconductors such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic solar cells (OPVs) already exist, the researchers pointed to the environmental impact of disposing of these technologies.
The researchers pointed to the current implementation of electrode modification layers, which are used to accelerate the flow of electrical charges in semiconductors, and highlighted how the use of these materials “may adversely affect aquatic organisms.”
Using caffeic acid, which can be extracted entirely from plants, could reduce the need to use unsustainable chemicals in semiconductor manufacturing, according to the researcher’s claims.
- Want to get your work done faster without another coffee? Check out our guide to the best workstations