[billnotgatez]

I have a very good friend who asked me this question and I had no quick answer off the top of my head.
i was going to put this post in education or citizen, but decided that it might get more exposure here (i might ask to move it later).

i know of there are some etching techniques for the circuit, but not the components of electric circuits.

Any information would be appreciated.

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I was wondering about organic semiconductors...
in particular I am curious if there is some way an amateur might cheaply synthesize an organic semiconductor suitable for application via a liquid...
ie a semiconductor ink.

One nice application would be for pedagogy with electronics... combined with inks for conductors and resistors you just have the students draw their entire circuits, crude transistors and all.

There are such inks commercially available, but they are quite expensive and made with exacting tolerances and what not.
However the raw materials(monomers) involved should be quite cheap, for some of these polymers at least.


Generally the major trick involved is simply to synthesize polymers of the right length from the monomers.
This insures that they will disperse nicely in your fluid while still having the right electrical properties.

The other trick involved is to be able to dope everything to have the precise electrical properties you want.
Dope it one way and you have a conducting ink, Dope it another way and you have a resistive ink, and Dope it yet another way and you have a semiconductor suitable to for use in a FET.

I don't know anywhere near enough chemistry to figure out how to tackle such a problem myself... but I was wondering if there were people on that chemistry site that would be interested.

Besides pedagogy, it really would open up a lot of interesting hobbyist electronic DIY stuff.

[fentonh]

I was wondering about organic semiconductors...
in particular I am curious if there is some way an amateur might cheaply synthesize an organic semiconductor suitable for application via a liquid...
ie a semiconductor ink.

the major issue would be purification (high purity required) as well as assessing purity and molecular weight. Also not clear how you might deal with air sensitivity in your garage.