Organic electronics: Introduction

For the past forty years inorganic silicon and gallium arsenide semiconductors, silicon dioxide insulators, and metals such as aluminum and copper have been the backbone of the semiconductor industry. However, there has been a growing research effort in “organic electronics” to improve the semiconducting, conducting, and lightemitting properties of organics (polymers, oligomers) and hybrids (organic-inorganic composites) through novel synthesis and self-assembly techniques. Performance improvements, coupled with the ability to process these “active” materials at low temperatures over large areas on materials such as plastic or paper, may provide unique technologies and generate new applications and form factors to address the growing needs for pervasive computing and enhanced connectivity.