Organic Electronics for a Better Tomorrow: Innovation, Accessibility, Sustainability A White Paper from the Chemical Sciences and Society Summit (CS3) San Francisco, California, United States September 2012 Table of Contents About the Chemical Sciences and Society Summit (CS3) ........................................................ 2 Foreword: Letter from the 2012 CS3 Chairs ................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Organic Electronics Today …………………………………………………………………………………10 Organic Electronics: The Vision for Tomorrow ....................................................................... 14 Research Pathway to the Future .................................................................................................... 20 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 26 References .............................................................................................................................................. 27 2012 CS3 Participants ........................................................................................................................ 31 Organic Electronics for a Better Tomorrow / 1 ABOUT THE CHEMICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIETY SUMMIT (CS3) The annual Chemical Sciences and societal needs. This white paper presents Society Summit (CS3) brings together an international view on how the use of some of the best minds in chemical organic materials in electronic devices research from around the world and can contribute positively to creating a challenge them to propose innovative more innovative, accessible, and solutions to society’s most pressing sustainable electronic world. needs in health, food, energy, and the The CS3 initiative is a environment. This unique gathering collaboration between the Chinese boasts an innovative format, aiming to Chemical Society (CCS), German set the course of international science, Chemical Society (GDCh), Chemical and rotates each year among Society of Japan (CSJ), Royal Society of participating nations. Chemistry (RSC), and American Organic Electronics for a Better Chemical Society (ACS). The annual Tomorrow: Innovation, Accessibility, symposia are supported by the National Sustainability summarizes the outcomes Natural Science Foundation of China of the fourth annual 2012 CS3, which (NSFC), German Research Foundation focused on organic electronics. Thirty (DFG), Japan Society for the Promotion top chemists and other scientists from of Science (JSPS), UK Engineering and China, Germany, Japan, the United Physical Sciences Research Council States, and the United Kingdom (EPSRC), and U.S. National Science assembled in San Francisco to identify Foundation (NSF). major scientific and technological This white paper was prepared research challenges that must be by science writer Leslie A. Pray, PhD, in addressed to advance the field of organic consultation with the American electronics in a way that best meets Chemical Society, and reviewed by 2012 CS3 participants. Organic Electronics for a Better Tomorrow / 2 FOREWORD: LETTER FROM THE organic electronics and to offer research 2012 CS3 DELEGATION CHAIRS recommendations for advancing the field in a way that will maximize its potential We live in an electronic world. positive impact on society. Economic, health, and national security Our hope is that our research rely on and are positively impacted by recommendations will be recognized and electronic technology. However, the considered by science policy-makers resources and methodologies used to worldwide – not just in the field of manufacture electronic devices raise chemistry, but also in the broad range of urgent questions about the negative other scientific and engineering environmental impacts of the disciplines that impact organic manufacture, use, and disposal of electronics research and development. electronic devices. The use of organic While chemists play a vitally important materials to build electronic devices may role in synthesizing and transforming the offer a more eco-friendly -- and organic “building block” materials that affordable -- approach to growing our make organic electronics possible, our electronic world. Moreover, and some vision for the future will not be realized would say more importantly, organic without the cooperation of physicists and small molecules, polymers, and other other scientists and engineers from materials afford electronic structures across academia and industry. unique properties impossible to obtain with silicon alone, creating untold potential for novel functionality. However, the field of organic Xi Zhang electronics is in its infancy with respect Chair, China Delegation to devices on the market. Realizing the vision of organic electronics as a more Peter Bäuerle innovative, accessible, and sustainable Chair, Germany Delegation approach to growing our electronic world will require overcoming key Takuzo Aida research challenges. Chair, Japan Delegation Chemists, physicists, and other scientists and engineers engaged in Peter Skabara organic electronics research representing Chair, United Kingdom Delegation China, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States gathered Cherie Kagan in San Francisco in September of 2012 Chair, United States Delegation to discuss their visions for the future of Organic Electronics for a Better Tomorrow / 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Chemists, physicists, and other scientists Potential applications of organic and engineers are synthesizing and electronics span a broad range of fields, manipulating a wealth of new organic including medicine and biomedical materials in ways that will change the research, environmental health, way society interacts with technology. information and communications, and These new materials create novel national security. properties impossible to replicate with Because of the lower cost and silicon, expanding the world of higher throughput manufacture of electronics in ways unimaginable until organic-based electronic devices, now. Organic Electronics for a Better compared to today’s silicon-based Tomorrow: Innovation, Accessibility, devices, organic electronics also promise Sustainability examines where organic to expand the use of electronic electronics are today, where chemical technology in resource-limited areas of scientists envision the field is heading, the world where supplies are limited or and the scientific and engineering the necessary infrastructure is lacking. challenges that must be met in order to Already, organic solar cells are being realize that vision. installed on rooftops in African villages Already, consumers are using that lack access to standard on-grid organic electronic devices, such as smart electricity, providing rural populations phones built with organic light emitting with a safer and cheaper alternative to diode (OLED) displays, often without kerosene. even being aware of the organic nature Not only do organic materials of the electronic technology in hand. The promise more innovative and accessible Samsung Galaxy line of OLED-based electronic technologies, they also smartphones occupies a major share of promise more sustainable electronic the global smartphone market. technologies. The potential for greater Potential future applications are sustainability extends across the entire enormous and untold. Organic materials life cycle of electronics, beginning with are being studied and developed for their the use of materials that are synthesized, potential to build devices with a rather than mined from the earth, and flexibility, stretchability and softness ending with potentially biodegradable or (“soft electronics”) not afforded by recyclable devices. It is not just the silicon or any other inorganic materials – devices themselves that promise to be that is, electronic devices that bend, more eco-friendly than silicon-based twist, and conform to any surface. electronics, but also their manufacture. Imagine a smartphone that folds like a Today, the major focus of map. Devices made with organic research and development in organic materials also have the potential to electronic is on three main types of interface with biological systems in existing applications: displays and ways not possible with inorganic lighting, transistors, and solar cells. The materials. Imagine an artificial skin with vision for the future is to move beyond a tactile sensitivity approximating real these already existing applications and skin that can be used to treat burns or explore new realms of electronic use. add functionality to prosthetic limbs. The intention is not that organic Organic Electronics for a Better Tomorrow / 3 electronics, or any specific type of the formation of many materials being a organic electronics, will replace silicon- major problem. Until wide-scale based electronics. Indeed, organic industry-level production is achieved, molecules and materials are often used future visions for organic electronics in combination with silicon materials. will remain just that – visions. Rather, the vision for the future is one of CS3 participants identified four an expanded electronic landscape – one