Transistors were invented nearly 100 years ago, and some consider them to be as important an invention to mankind as the telephone, light bulb, or bicycle.
The transistor, which regulates the current through it and can also act as a power switch, is today an important component in modern electronic devices and is manufactured at the nanoscale.
We have created an unprecedented principle. Yes, the wooden transistor is slow and bulky, but it works and has great development potential,” said Isaac Engquist, assistant professor in the university’s Organic Electronics Laboratory.
In previous experiments, transistors made of wood were only able to regulate ionic transport, and when they wore out, they stopped working.
However, the transistor developed by the Linköping researchers can operate continuously and regulate the flow of electricity without degradation.
The researchers used balsa wood to create their transistor, as the technology used requires a grain-free, evenly structured wood.
They stripped out the lignin, leaving only long, oriented cellulose fibers that were then packed with a conductive plastic or polymer called PEDOT:PSS, resulting in an electrically conductive wood material.
The researchers used this to build a wooden transistor and were able to show its ability to regulate electric current and provide continuous function at a specified output level.
It can also turn the power on and off, albeit with some delay: Turning it off took about a second, and turning it on about five seconds.
According to experts, potential applications could include electronic factory regulation, which is another strong research area at Linköping University.
They explained that one of the advantages of a very large channel transistor is that it can withstand a higher current than ordinary organic transistors, which may be important for some future applications.
mem/lpn
“Award-winning alcohol trailblazer. Hipster-friendly internetaholic. Twitter ninja. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. Pop culture nerd.”