Smartphones and computers process information by switching the current that flows inside semiconductors on and off. The gate electrode delivers the signal that controls this switching. Until now, gate electrodes have typically been made from metals whose electronic properties are fixed.

A KAIST-led joint research team has now built working semiconductor electrodes from a new material that combines metals and organic molecules. The study provides a basis for designing electrodes to meet the requirements of different semiconductors. It is also expected to support the development of low-power semiconductors that operate at lower voltages.

The study is published in the journal Advanced Materials.