Characterization of melanin thin films for optoelectronic devices

Abstract

The accumulation of electronic waste harms the environment and one way to solve this problem is using biodegradable electronic materials, as this technology has less environmental impact and does not generate toxic waste. In addition, these devices can be biocompatible allowing integration between organic electronics and biological systems. Among the wide range of materials that can be used, those that present in addition to biodegradability and biocompatibility, favorable optical and electronic / ionic properties to manufacture devices are promising candidates for this task. In this sense, natural materials such as melanin have become increasingly prominent. Melanin is a natural pigment that is spread throughout fauna and flora, including the human body, with a wide band of absorbance throughout the UV-visible region, and hybrid conduction of ions and electrons. Therefore, this research project aims to use melanin in opt and bioelectronic devices. For this purpose, the processes of obtention and deposition of thin films of different melanin derivatives will be studied to obtain films with good quality and adhesion to the substrates. Also, the influence of different chemical structures on the physical and chemical properties of the films, especially the optical properties, will be investigated.