A Solution-Based Deposition Method Enabling Pigment Blue Edible Electrochemical Transistors.

Copper(II) phthalocyanine (CuPc), also known as Pigment Blue 15, is a widely utilized pigment renowned for its exceptional semiconducting properties when refined to electronic-grade purity. Recent studies have confirmed its safety if ingested at doses required for essential active components in edible electronics for advanced gastrointestinal tract monitoring. Since in-body operations impose stringent safety constraints on operational biases, the development of transistors with high transconductance at low voltages is required to ensure adequate amplification gain.

A Fully Edible Transistor Based on a Toothpaste Pigment.

Edible electronics is emerging in recent years motivated by a diverse number of healthcare applications, where sensors can be safely ingested without the need for any medical supervision. However, the current lack of stable and well-performing edible semiconductors needs to be addressed to reach technological maturity and allow the surge of a new generation of edible circuits. In the quest for good-performing edible semiconductors, this study has explored the possibility of considering materials that are not regulated for intentional ingestion, yet are daily swallowed with no adverse reactions, such as pigments contained in toothpaste.