Bringing biotechnology to organic electronics

Hardy, John and Stowell, Alison (2021) Bringing biotechnology to organic electronics. Lancaster University.

Abstract

Aims To understand the potential future role of organic electronics in solving current resource and sustainability issues. Focusing on barriers to adoption and most promising future research areas. Overview Dr Alison Stowell and Dr John Hardy, explain: “Using organic molecules/materials as components of electronic devices can avoid or minimise the use of unsustainable or toxic resources and wasteful practices. Organic components can be derived from renewable resources and used to manufacture degradable devices minimising the negative impacts of traditional electronics waste. The project looked at how organic electronics could be introduced, focusing on display technologies. The project moved beyond discussing only the technology, but included ethical, philosophical, legal, economic, environmental and societal themes. Over seven months we engaged with stakeholders in the UK, identifying promising approaches, impacts and important questions for further study. We examined research literature, carried out in depth interviews and a short survey. We identified a number of technologies as having the most promise for future research including wearable technologies, smart fabrics, packaging, toys and RFID cards. We discovered many barriers to adoption including a lack of articulation for demand, fragmented markets, and a lack of investment and regulation. We now have the opportunity to engage more deeply with a network of worldwide contacts that will offer valuable insight to industry and to policy makers on organic electronics. It has focused our plans for future research and clarified reasons for existing barriers to adoption.”