A biodegradable transistor based on proteins has been created. Free Technical Library News

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Created a biodegradable transistor based on proteins

24.03.2012

A team of scientists using advanced methods from various fields of science created a transistor based on proteins present in the human body. According to the calculations of developers from Tel Aviv University, the new technology can become the basis for various flexible electronic nanodevices with the ability to biodegrade.

One of the problems with using silicon as a semiconductor is that the silicon transistor must be built from the top down. Manufacturers take a sheet of silicon and actually "cut" a microchip out of it. This method limits the possibilities of transistors, especially in terms of miniaturization and flexibility. Thus, silicon is rapidly becoming obsolete, and recycling of obsolete electronics is expensive and pollutes the environment.

Scientists used the latest advances in chemistry and biology to create the perfect transistor. They studied various combinations of blood, milk and mucus proteins in order to create self-organizing molecules that form semiconductor films at the nanoscale. In the case of blood proteins, for example, it was possible to obtain films with a thickness of about 4 nanometers, which is 4,5 times thinner than using modern silicon technologies. With the help of three different types of proteins, you can create a complete electronic circuit with unique capabilities. For example, a blood protein has the ability to absorb oxygen, which allows the production of semiconductors from certain chemicals.

In turn, milk proteins form fibers that form the structure of transistors, while mucosal proteins have the ability to hold red, green, and blue fluorescent dyes. Thus, the circuit can emit the white light required for advanced optics. In general, the natural features of each protein give researchers the opportunity to control the properties of an organic transistor: change conductivity, memory, fluorescence, etc.

Protein-based transistors could revolutionize electronics. They are ideal for small, flexible devices because, unlike silicon, they do not break. This will make it possible to launch a new generation of flexible screens, mobile phones, biosensors, microprocessors, and so on. At the same time, this electronics will be biodegradable and will not harm the environment.

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