'Paintable' Electronics Pave the Way for Cheaper Gadgets

Researchers in the field of materials science are using a new technique to create paint-on plastic electronics that can be used to make popular gadgets less expensive and better for the environment.

Scientists at the University of Michigan (U-M) recently announced that they've discovered a way to make unruly semiconducting polymers- like those used in computer processors and LED displays- more manageable.

Most semiconductors used in modern electronics are inorganic, or based on materials other than carbon, like silicon or copper. While inorganic semiconductors do an excellent job of spreading a charge through an electronic device, they're costly and impossible to produce without specialized equipment.