Development of vertical electrolytic transistors aiming at sustainable printed electronics

• Grant number: 23/10351-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Neri Alves
• Grantee: Luís Henrique Tigre Bertoldo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The advent of organic electronics brings interest in new electronic modalities, such as printed flexible electronics, which have become alternatives to silicon electronics. These organic electronics stand out in some specific niches, such as smart packaging, wearable electronics, and applications for the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the concern over the increasing electronic waste amount drives the search for sustainable solutions aiming that the technological advances do not increase the impact on the environment. In this context, this doctorate project is aiming to develop biodegradable electrolyte-gated vertical Field effect transistors based on ZnO. However, the concern over the increasing amount of electronic waste drives the search for sustainable solutions to ensure that technological advances do not exacerbate the environmental impact. In this context, this doctoral project aims to develop biodegradable electrolyte-gated vertical field-effect transistors based on ZnO. The main challenge facing the development of EGVFETs is to create biodegradable printed electrodes, both ohmic and Schottky, particularly the middle electrode which needs to exhibit high lateral conductivity and be permeable to the electrical field in the vertical direction. Printed electrodes based on carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and other materials will be studied and deposited onto biodegradable substrates. The electrodes will be characterized in terms of their electrical and morphological properties, and the EGVFETs themselves will be properly characterized by output and transfer curves. In addition to this basic characterization, their stability, and cyclability will be evaluated. To provide a comprehensive approach, dynamic and pulsed characterization will also be performed. These last measurements will allow the evaluation of the device's performance for applications such as neuromorphic, analog, or digital circuits. Ultimately, this project aims to contribute to the development of sustainable printed electronics.