Researchers print first a/d converter on plastic
French researchers have found a way to print a/d converters onto plastic.
The work is part of a collaboration between CEA-Liten, Eindhoven University of Technology, ST Microelectronics and the University of Catania.
The CEA-Liten-printed circuit, which is said to offer a resolution of 4bits and a speed of 2Hz, includes more than 100 n and p type transistors and a resistive layer on a transparent plastic sheet.
The researchers claim the carrier mobility of the printed transistors is higher than the one observed in amorphous silicon, which is widely used in the display industry.
As well as being used to monitor the freshness of packed food, the technology is thought to have applications in pharmaceuticals, man-machine interfaces and ambient intelligence systems in buildings or in transport.
