Food-Based Electronics: Revisiting β-Carotene Organic Transistors
Edible electronics offer a unique platform for developing devices made entirely from food-based materials that can be safely digested or excreted without environmental concerns. Yet, identifying semiconductors that are both food-based and capable of supporting efficient charge transport remains a challenge. In this work, we show that this hurdle can be overcome by applying structure-property insights developed in organic electronics to natural compounds, revealing how a material previously discarded for electronic applications and largely present in vegetables, β-carotene, can be tuned into a viable semiconductor. Beyond its implications for edible electronics, this approach also highlights the broader potential of renewable, nature-derived materials as building blocks for sustainable technologies.
Authors
- Elena Feltri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4509-1746)
- Annamaria Petrozza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6914-4537)
- Alessandro Luzio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1857-1613)
- Luca Beverina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6450-545X)
- Francesca Pallini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4928-684X)
- Alberto D. Scaccabarozzi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7096-4214)
- Giuseppe Mattioli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6331-198X)
- Pierluigi Mondelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-3940)
- Pietro Rossi
- Mario Caironi
- J. Delgado Martín
- Antonella Treglia
Institutions
- Universidade da Coruña (ES)
- Citigroup (US)
- Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
- Institute of Structure of Matter (IT)
- Center for Nano Science and Technology (IT)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- Politecnico di Milano (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
- Published
- 2026-02-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c23614
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 42.56