Sustainable electronics: a first high-performance wooden transistor
A major breakthrough has just been made in the field of durable electronics. A team of researchers has successfully developed the first high-performance wooden transistor, ushering in a new era of environmentally friendly and renewable electronic devices. The innovative work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), represent a significant step forward in sustainable technology while reducing the environmental footprint of traditional electronic components.
The study presents a revolutionary advance in creating a working transistor from wood. The research team combined cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) extracted from wood fibers with a conductive polymer to design the wooden transistor.
This transistor has exceptional electrical properties, including high charge carrier mobility and an on/off ratio comparable to that of silicon transistors. In addition, its remarkable flexibility makes it an ideal choice for applications in the field of portable and flexible electronics.
The success of this technological feat is based on mastering the alignment and orientation of the cellulose nanofibrils extracted from wood fibres. This approach makes it possible to ensure efficient transport of the electrical charges within the transistor. Additionally, the use of wood offers a promising alternative to traditional electronic components that often depend on scarce and non-renewable resources.
In the future, wooden transistors could be used in many fields, such as flexible displays, portable devices and biomedical devices.
This technological advance would also reduce the ecological footprint of the electronics industry. Traditional materials used in the manufacture of electronic components are often non-biodegradable and contribute to environmental pollution.
