Studies on deoxyribonucleic acid based photonic materials and their applications”

Abstract

We live in an Information age, which is marked by the onset of digital revolution during or after the latter half of the 20th century. In this era, we saw sweeping changes in digital computing and communication technology. We largely depend on electronics and photonics for hardware requirements to aid this technology. With the assistance of modern technology, electronic devices have become an indispensable tool in our everyday life. Inorganic semiconductor materials like silicon and gallium arsenide have been exploited for the on-growing demands of digital revolution. Fifty years of continuous research and technological advancements have pushed these materials to their theoretical efficiency limit. On the other hand, the rapid advancement in technology has created a huge electronic waste which pose a threat to the environment. The scarcity of inorganic materials such as gallium and indium is an alarming factor and it is estimated that these will run out completely in the next 20 years. The availability of new suitable materials is crucial for the development of semiconductor technology. With much promise of delivering low-cost and energy efficient materials, organic semiconductors such as conjugated polymers and small molecules have opened up new avenues for research. Despite the intense effort by scientists and researchers, the performance and stability of organic devices have taken a back seat. Therefore an immediate large-scale replacement of inorganic components by organic counterparts are not foreseen in the near future. Although research is underway to improve the performance of organic materials, it is important to constantly search for new materials.Nature is a big treasure-trove of successfully conducted experiments by natural selection. Inspired by its apparent simplicity and actual complexity, researchers look out for natural materials or synthetic materials mimicked from natural models, systems or elements. Bio-inspired photonics use natural design as their inspiration to solve human problems and channel these solutions in new directions. It is promising that natural and nature-inspired materials can achieve the ambitious goal of ‘green’ technology for sustainable future.