Skin-like Sensors Networks using Printed Organic Transistors (Printed Electronics Asia 2007)

Takao Someya received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1997. Since 2009, he has been a professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Tokyo. From 2001 to 2003, he worked at the Nanocenter (NSEC) of Columbia University and Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, as a Visiting Scholar. His current research interests include organic transistors, flexible electronics, plastic integrated circuits, large-area sensors, and plastic actuators. Prof. Someya has received a number of awards, a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Prize, the 1st Prize of the newly established German Innovation Award, 2004 IEEE/ISSCC Sugano Award, and 2009 IEEE Paul Rappaport Award. He was a global scholar of Princeton University (2009-2012), a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Materials Research Society (2008-2011), and an IEEE/EDS Distinguished Lecturer since 2005. Prof. Someya's "large-area sensor array" electronic thin film was featured in Time Magazine as one of its "Best Inventions of 2005" in its November 21st issue.

Someya lab in the University of Tokyo has been dealing with Organic Electronics since 2003. Organic devices have attractive features; such as its ease to be fabricated on plastic films, its thinness and flexibility, and its extraordinary durability from banging and bending.

Our recent research focus is bio-medical application of organic devices. We aim to develop novel electronic devices that can harmoniously interface with living bodies by taking advantage of the inherent softness of organic materials and the remarkable features of organic molecules. Our next challenge is to expand them into "wearable electronics" and its beyond.