Multi-Conversion Soft Electronic Materials

A material that can simultaneously convert multiple input stimuli into electrical charge carriers resulting in multi-functions may be classified as a multi-conversion multi-function or smart material. A variety of external stimuli-induced electrical charge carriers can modulate material’s electronic, optical, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and other charge carrier-modulated properties for potential multi-conversion applications. Photovoltaic materials convert light or photons into electrical charge carriers, thermoelectric materials convert heat or phonons into electrical charge carriers, field effect transistors (FETs) convert gate voltages into electrical charge carriers in the semiconductor that intern affect output IV curves of the source-drain electrodes. These types of materials have been recently intensely studied and reported. This article briefly reviews fundamental scientific principles and key results of certain multi-conversion soft materials studied mainly at the author’s lab.