Pradeep Chandran, C; V P N Nampoori; Radhakrishnan, P(Cochin University of Science and Technology, January 10, 2016)
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Abstract:
We live in an Information age, which is marked by the onset of digital
revolution during or after the latter half of the 20th century. In this era, we saw
sweeping changes in digital computing and communication technology. We largely
depend on electronics and photonics for hardware requirements to aid this
technology. With the assistance of modern technology, electronic devices have
become an indispensable tool in our everyday life.
Inorganic semiconductor materials like silicon and gallium arsenide have been
exploited for the on-growing demands of digital revolution. Fifty years of continuous
research and technological advancements have pushed these materials to their
theoretical efficiency limit. On the other hand, the rapid advancement in technology
has created a huge electronic waste which pose a threat to the environment. The
scarcity of inorganic materials such as gallium and indium is an alarming factor and it
is estimated that these will run out completely in the next 20 years. The availability of
new suitable materials is crucial for the development of semiconductor technology.
With much promise of delivering low-cost and energy efficient materials, organic
semiconductors such as conjugated polymers and small molecules have opened up
new avenues for research. Despite the intense effort by scientists and researchers, the
performance and stability of organic devices have taken a back seat. Therefore an
immediate large-scale replacement of inorganic components by organic counterparts
are not foreseen in the near future. Although research is underway to improve the
performance of organic materials, it is important to constantly search for new
materials.Nature is a big treasure-trove of successfully conducted experiments by
natural selection. Inspired by its apparent simplicity and actual complexity,
researchers look out for natural materials or synthetic materials mimicked from
natural models, systems or elements. Bio-inspired photonics use natural design as
their inspiration to solve human problems and channel these solutions in new
directions. It is promising that natural and nature-inspired materials can achieve the
ambitious goal of ‘green’ technology for sustainable future.