Organic semiconductors (OS) have been in the center of attention in at least two areas: in chemical ,sensors and in molecular electronics. Although the chemistry and physics governing them is the same their performance characteristics are apparently measured on different scales. Electrochemical sensors operate on the principle of controlled change of some electrical parameter, e.g. conductivity, current or voltage, caused by the change of the chemical environment. Specifically, in electrochemical gas sensors the change of conductivity or work function is measured in response to the change of partial pressure of the analyte. On the other hand, in molecular electronic applications the effect of these "environmental" factors are either ignored or generally seen as a nuisance that should be avoided. In solution sensing applications the electrochemical characteristics of OS, such as the kinetics of electron transfer at the OS/electrolyte interface or the ion exchange properties of the CP layer become important. A new platform fabricated from silicon allows simultaneous evaluation of OS as a sensing material in CHEMFET and as a structural material in molecular electronics OFET.

1. J. Janata and M. Josowicz, Nature Materials, 2 (1), (2003) 19-24, "Conducting polymers in electronic chemical sensors"
2. J.Janata, Phys.Chem.Chem.Phys., 5 (2003) 5155-5158 "Organic Semiconductors in Molecular Electronics"
3. F. L'Hereec, Hang Chen, Zhipin Zhou and J. Janata, J.Phys.Chem.B. 108 (2004); 9042-9047 "New Platform for Testing Organic Field-Effect Transistors"
4. Hang Chen, Mira Josowicz, Karin Potje-Kamloth and Jiri Janata, Chem. Materials, 16 (2004) 4728-4735, "Chemical Effects in Organic Electronics"

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Jiri Janata (2005), "Organic Electronics Part I: Chemical Modulation," http://nanohub.org/resources/530.

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