Design of a simple electrical characterization platform for semiconducting organic films

Printed organic electronic devices are considered a key technology for enabling the Internet of Things. The development of organic electronics is fueled by new materials, which allow the printing of thin films on flexible substrates at low cost. Green materials are preferable, which are recyclable or biodegradable and are based on environment-friendly, noncorrosive and abundant chemical precursors processed at low temperature without toxic waste. Especially for countries with large biodiversity, like Brazil, the screening of natural materials is a viable strategy to discover suitable prototype materials that may be further developed. We report here on the design of a simple electrical characterization platform able to distinguish between conducting, semiconducting and insulating behavior. In an exemplary case study we show that curcumin, a natural dye, resembles an insulator.