Paper Transistor

Paper transistor is one of the most important inventions in modern times. It revolutionized electronics and unlocked new and much, much smaller circuits. Portuguese researchers have produced the first discrete device paper based transistors. To be more precise, they have made the first field effect transistors (FET) with a paper interstrate layer. According to the research team, these new transistors offer the same level of performance as ’state-of-the-art oxide based thin film transistors (TFTs) produced on glass or crystalline silicon substrates.
A common paper sheet is used on both sides in the fabrication of the paper transistor. It means paper is used instead of silicon which was invented by a Portuguese team and is manufactured at ambient temperature. This way, the paper acts simultaneously as the electric insulator and as the substrate. Furthermore, electric characterization of devices showed that the hybrid FETs’ performance outpace those of amorphous silicon TFTs, and rival with the actual state of the art of oxide thin film transistors.
There is an increased interest in the use of biopolymers for low-cost electronic applications. Since cellulose is the Earth’s major biopolymer, some international teams have reported using paper as the physical support (substrate) of electronic devices but no one had used paper as an interstrate component of a FET.
The cellulose not only used as substrate but also act as electric insulator by fabricating the device on both sides of the paper. Add to that the paper transistor outperforms the amorphous silicon thin-film transistor used in modern LCD displays and is up to par with the very latest oxide thin-film transistors, which are still a rare sight.
Since paper is a flexible and a biomaterial it would open up new possibilities for bendable displays, bio-labeling, small and cheap displays that could be used for labeling of varies things and more. Our only concern so far is the degradability, i.e. the lifespan of displays made from paper.
These results suggest promising new disposable electronic devices electronics devices , like paper displays, smart labels, smart packaging, bio-applications and RFID tags.