Dihydroindenofluorenes as building units in organic semiconductors for organic electronics

This review aims to discuss organic semiconductors constructed on dihydroindenofluorene positional isomers, which are key molecular scaffolds in organic electronics. Bridged oligophenylenes are key organic semiconductors that have allowed the development of organic electronic technologies. Dihydroindenofluorenes (DHIFs) belong to the family of bridged oligophenylenes constructed on a terphenyl backbone. They have proven to be very promising building blocks for the construction of highly efficient organic semiconductors for all OE devices, namely organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), phosphorescent OLEDs, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), solar cells, etc.

Flexible Electronics Based on Organic Semiconductors: from Patterned Assembly to Integrated Applications

Organic flexible electronic devices are at the forefront of the electronics as they possess the potential to bring about a major lifestyle revolution owing to outstanding properties of organic semiconductors, including solution processability, lightweight and flexibility. For the integration of organic flexible electronics, the precise patterning and ordered assembly of organic semiconductors have attracted wide attention and gained rapid developments, which not only reduces the charge crosstalk between adjacent devices, but also enhances device uniformity and reproducibility. This review focuses on recent advances in the design, patterned assembly of organic semiconductors, and flexible electronic devices, especially for flexible organic field-effect transistors (FOFETs) and their multifunctional applications. First, typical organic semiconductor materials and material design methods are introduced. Based on these organic materials with not only superior mechanical properties but also high carrier mobility, patterned assembly strategies on flexible substrates, including one-step and two-step approaches are discussed. Advanced applications of flexible electronic devices based on organic semiconductor patterns are then highlighted. Finally, future challenges and possible directions in the field to motivate the development of the next generation of flexible electronics are proposed.

Electron-Deficient Dihydroindaceno-Dithiophene Regioisomers for n-Type Organic Field-Effect Transistors

In this work, we wish to report the first member of a new family of organic semiconductors constructed on a meta dihydroindacenodithiophene core, that is, 2,2'-(2,8-dihexyl-4,6-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b:7,6-b']dithiophene-4,6-diylidene)dimalononitrile (called meta-IDT(═C(CN)₂)₂). The properties of this molecule were studied in detail through a structure-properties relationship study with its regioisomer, that is, 2,2'-(2,7-dihexyl-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b']dithiophene-4,9-diylidene)dimalononitrile (para-IDT(═C(CN)₂)₂) (see isomer structures in blue in Chart 2). The influence of the bridge functionalization was also investigated by comparison with their diketone analogues meta-IDT(═O)₂ and para-IDT(═O)₂. This study sheds light on the impact of regioisomerism on the electronic properties at the molecular level (electrochemistry, absorption spectroscopy, molecular modeling) and also on the supramolecular arrangement, and finally on the organic field-effect transistors (OFET) performances and stabilities. The significant effect of self-assembled monolayers of 4-(dimethylamino)benzenethiol grafted on the gold drain and source electrodes or of the use of flexible substrate (polyethylene naphtalate) instead of glass on the OFET performances and stabilities are also reported. In the light of these results (maximum mobility reaching 7.1 × 10^-2 cm² V^-1 cm^-1, high I_Don/I_Doff of 2.3 × 10⁷, and subthreshold swing of 1.2 V/dec), we believe that the present OFETs can be further used to construct electronic circuits.

Tailoring the Dielectric Layer Structure for Enhanced Performance of Organic Field-Effect Transistors: The Use of a Sandwiched Polar Dielectric Layer

To investigate the origins of hydroxyl groups in a polymeric dielectric and its applications in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), a polar polymer layer was inserted between two polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dielectric layers, and its effect on the performance as an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) was studied. The OFETs with a sandwiched dielectric layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) containing hydroxyl groups had shown enhanced characteristics compared to those with only PMMA layers. The field-effect mobility had been raised more than 10 times in n-type devices (three times in the p-type one), and the threshold voltage had been lowered almost eight times in p-type devices (two times in the n-type). The on-off ratio of two kinds of devices had been enhanced by almost two orders of magnitude. This was attributed to the orientation of hydroxyl groups from disordered to perpendicular to the substrate under gate-applied voltage bias, and additional charges would be induced by this polarization at the interface between the semiconductor and dielectrics, contributing to the accumulation of charge transfer.

Thiophene-fused isoindigo based conjugated polymers for ambipolar organic field-effect transistors

A series of donor–acceptor type of polymers based on thiophene-fused isoindigo were synthesized, among which the fully conjugated PTII-T showed well balanced ambipolar OFET performance.

Electrochemical processes and mechanistic aspects of field-effect sensors for biomolecules

Electronic biosensing is a leading technology for determining concentrations of biomolecules. In some cases, the presence of an analyte molecule induces a measured change in current flow, while in other cases, a new potential difference is established. In the particular case of a field effect biosensor, the potential difference is monitored as a change in conductance elsewhere in the device, such as across a film of an underlying semiconductor. Often, the mechanisms that lead to these responses are not specifically determined. Because improved understanding of these mechanisms will lead to improved performance, it is important to highlight those studies where various mechanistic possibilities are investigated. This review explores a range of possible mechanistic contributions to field-effect biosensor signals. First, we define the field-effect biosensor and the chemical interactions that lead to the field effect, followed by a section on theoretical and mechanistic background. We then discuss materials used in field-effect biosensors and approaches to improving signals from field-effect biosensors. We specifically cover the biomolecule interactions that produce local electric fields, structures and processes at interfaces between bioanalyte solutions and electronic materials, semiconductors used in biochemical sensors, dielectric layers used in top-gated sensors, and mechanisms for converting the surface voltage change to higher signal/noise outputs in circuits.

Effect of molecular asymmetry on the charge transport physics of high mobility n-type molecular semiconductors investigated by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy

We have investigated the influence of the symmetry of the side chain substituents in high-mobility, solution processable n-type molecular semiconductors on the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). We compare two molecules with the same conjugated core, but either symmetric or asymmetric side chain substituents, and investigate the transport properties and thin film growth mode using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We find that asymmetric side chains can induce a favorable two-dimensional growth mode with a bilayer structure, which enables ultrathin films with a single bilayer to exhibit excellent transport properties, while the symmetric molecules adopt an unfavorable three-dimensional growth mode in which transport in the first monolayer at the interface is severely hindered by high-resistance grain boundaries.

25th anniversary article: microstructure dependent bias stability of organic transistors

Recent studies of the bias-stress-driven electrical instability of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are reviewed. OFETs are operated under continuous gate and source/drain biases and these bias stresses degrade device performance. The principles underlying this bias instability are discussed, particularly the mechanisms of charge trapping. There are three main charge-trapping sites: the semiconductor, the dielectric, and the semiconductor-dielectric interface. The charge-trapping phenomena in these three regions are analyzed with special attention to the microstructural dependence of bias instability. Finally, possibilities for future research in this field are presented. This critical review aims to enhance our insight into bias-stress-induced charge trapping in OFETs with the aim of minimizing operational instability.

25th anniversary article: A soft future: from robots and sensor skin to energy harvesters

Scientists are exploring elastic and soft forms of robots, electronic skin and energy harvesters, dreaming to mimic nature and to enable novel applications in wide fields, from consumer and mobile appliances to biomedical systems, sports and healthcare. All conceivable classes of materials with a wide range of mechanical, physical and chemical properties are employed, from liquids and gels to organic and inorganic solids. Functionalities never seen before are achieved. In this review we discuss soft robots which allow actuation with several degrees of freedom. We show that different actuation mechanisms lead to similar actuators, capable of complex and smooth movements in 3d space. We introduce latest research examples in sensor skin development and discuss ultraflexible electronic circuits, light emitting diodes and solar cells as examples. Additional functionalities of sensor skin, such as visual sensors inspired by animal eyes, camouflage, self-cleaning and healing and on-skin energy storage and generation are briefly reviewed. Finally, we discuss a paradigm change in energy harvesting, away from hard energy generators to soft ones based on dielectric elastomers. Such systems are shown to work with high energy of conversion, making them potentially interesting for harvesting mechanical energy from human gait, winds and ocean waves.

25th anniversary article: recent advances in n-type and ambipolar organic field-effect transistors

The advantages of organic field-effect transistors, such as low cost, mechanical flexibility and large-area fabrication, make them potentially useful for electronic applications such as flexible switching backplanes for video displays, radio frequency identifications and so on. A large amount of molecules were designed and synthesized for electron transporting (n-type) and ambipolar organic semiconductors with improved performance and stability. In this review, we focus on the advances in performance and molecular design of n-type and ambipolar semiconductors reported in the past few years.

Rational design of benzotrithiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole-containing donor-acceptor polymers for improved charge carrier transport

Two new donor-acceptor polymers containing benzo[2,1-b:3,4-b':5,6-c'']trithiophene (BTT) as donor and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as acceptor are synthesized and applied in OFETs. By tuning the alkyl substituents of the polymers, a striking difference in packing order, thin-film arrangement, and charge carrier transport is observed. The polymer without substituents at the BTT exhibits a hole mobility two orders of magnitude higher than that with alkyl chains therein.

Polymers for electronics and spintronics

This critical review is devoted to semiconducting and high spin polymers which are of great scientific interest in view of further development of the organic electronics and the emerging organic spintronic fields. Diversified synthetic strategies are discussed in detail leading to high molecular mass compounds showing appropriate redox (ionization potential (IP), electron affinity (EA)), electronic (charge carrier mobility, conductivity), optoelectronic (electroluminescence, photoconductivity) and magnetic (magnetization, ferromagnetic spin interactions) properties and used as active components of devices such as n- and p-channel field effect transistors, ambipolar light emitting transistors, light emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, photodiodes, magnetic photoswitches, etc. Solution processing procedures developed with the goal of depositing highly ordered and oriented films of these polymers are also described. This is completed by the description of principal methods that are used for characterizing these macromolecular compounds both in solution and in the solid state. These involve various spectroscopic methods (UV-vis-NIR, UPS, pulse EPR), electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry, magnetic measurements (SQUID), and structural and morphological investigations (X-ray diffraction, STM, AFM). Finally, four classes of polymers are discussed in detail with special emphasis on the results obtained in the past three years: (i) high IP, (ii) high |EA|, (iii) low band gap and (iv) high spin ones.

Pyromellitic Diimide-Ethynylene-Based Homopolymer Film as an N-Channel Organic Field-Effect Transistor Semiconductor

We report the synthesis and characterization of two solution-processable pyromellitic diimide (PyDI)-acetylene-based conjugated homopolymers. Adjacent PyDI cores were connected with triple bond linkages by reacting 3,6-dibromo-N,N'-dialkyl pyromellitic diimides with bis(tributylstannyl)acetylene under Stille coupling conditions. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that these polymers have sufficient electron affinity to accept electrons. Absorption spectra revealed that one polymer, with a simple octyl chain, has greater intermolecular interaction or conjugation after forming a thin film, and that film exhibited electron transport in top-gate bottom-contact mode organic field-effect transistor (OFET) devices. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the octyl polymer is amorphous on the bulk scale. The polymer exhibited electron mobility of about 2 × 10^-4 cm² V^-1 s^-1 with on/off ratio of 10³ and is the simplest n-channel polymer yet reported. A 4-trifluoromethylphenethyl side chain did not result in measurable electron mobility. The octyl polymer exhibited negative Seebeck coefficient on the order of -40 μV/K in thermoelectric devices, further substantiating its n-channel activity. The demonstration of electron transport from such a simple polymer has opened a new path for obtaining n-channel semiconducting activity from polymer films.

Oxygen "getter" effects on microstructure and carrier transport in low temperature combustion-processed a-InXZnO (X = Ga, Sc, Y, La) transistors

In oxide semiconductors, such as those based on indium zinc oxide (IXZO), a strong oxygen binding metal ion ("oxygen getter"), X, functions to control O vacancies and enhance lattice formation, hence tune carrier concentration and transport properties. Here we systematically study, in the IXZO series, the role of X = Ga(3+) versus the progression X = Sc(3+) → Y(3+) → La(3+), having similar chemical characteristics but increasing ionic radii. IXZO films are prepared from solution over broad composition ranges for the first time via low-temperature combustion synthesis. The films are characterized via thermal analysis of the precursor solutions, grazing incidence angle X-ray diffraction (GIAXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging. Excellent thin-film transistor (TFT) performance is achieved for all X, with optimal compositions after 300 °C processing exhibiting electron mobilities of 5.4, 2.6, 2.4, and 1.8 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for Ga(3+), Sc(3+), Y(3+), and La(3+), respectively, and with I(on)/I(off) = 10(7)-10(8). Analysis of the IXZO TFT positive bias stress response shows X = Ga(3+) to be superior with mobilities (μ) retaining >95% of the prestress values and threshold voltage shifts (ΔV(T)) of <1.6 V, versus <85% μ retention and ΔV(T) ≈ 20 V for the other trivalent ions. Detailed microstructural analysis indicates that Ga(3+) most effectively promotes oxide lattice formation. We conclude that the metal oxide lattice formation enthalpy (ΔH(L)) and metal ionic radius are the best predictors of IXZO oxygen getter efficacy.

Monte Carlo Simulations of Charge Transport in 2D Organic Photovoltaics

The effect of morphology on charge transport in organic photovoltaics is assessed using Monte Carlo. In isotopic two-phase morphologies, increasing the domain size from 6.3 to 18.3 nm improves the fill factor by 11.6%, a result of decreased tortuosity and relaxation of Coulombic barriers. Additionally, when small aggregates of electron acceptors are interdispersed into the electron donor phase, charged defects form in the system, reducing fill factors by 23.3% on average, compared with systems without aggregates. In contrast, systems with idealized connectivity show a 3.31% decrease in fill factor when domain size was increased from 4 to 64 nm. We attribute this to a decreased rate of exciton separation at donor-acceptor interfaces. Finally, we notice that the presence of Coulomb interactions increases device performance as devices become smaller. The results suggest that for commonly found isotropic morphologies the Coulomb interactions between charge carriers dominates exciton separation effects.

Controlled charge transport by polymer blend dielectrics in top-gate organic field-effect transistors for low-voltage-operating complementary circuits

We report here the development of high-performance p- and n-channel organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and complementary circuits using inkjet-printed semiconducting layers and high-k polymer dielectric blends of poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Inkjet-printed p-type polymer semiconductors containing alkyl-substituted thienylenevinylene (TV) and dodecylthiophene (PC12TV12T) and n-type poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-dithiophene)} (P(NDI2OD-T2)) OFETs typically show high field-effect mobilities (μ(FET)) of 0.2-0.5 cm²/(V s), and their operation voltage is effectively reduced to below 5 V by the use of P(VDF-TrFE):PMMA blends. The main interesting result is that the OFET characteristics could be tuned by controlling the mixing ratio of P(VDF-TrFE) to PMMA in the blended dielectric. The μ(FET) of the PC12TV12T OFETs gradually improves, whereas the P(NDI2OD-T2) OFET properties become slightly worse as the P(VDF-TrFE) content increases. When the mixing ratio is optimized, well-balanced hole and electron mobilities of more than 0.2 cm²/(V s) and threshold voltages below ±3 V are obtained at a 7:3 ratio of P(VDF-TrFE) to PMMA. Low-voltage-operated (∼2 V) printed complementary inverters are successfully demonstrated using the blended dielectric and exhibit an ideal inverting voltage of nearly half of the supplied bias, high voltage gains of greater than 25, and excellent noise margins of more than 75% of the ideal values.

Micellar nanoreactors for hematin catalyzed synthesis of electrically conducting polypyrrole

Enzymatic synthesis of doped polypyrrole (PPy) complexes using oxidoreductases (specifically peroxidases) is very well established "green" methods for producing conducting polypyrrole. The importance of this approach is realized by the numerous potential opportunities of using PPy in biological applications. However, due to very high costs and low acid stability of these enzymes, there is need for more robust alternate biomimetic catalysts. Hematin, a hydroxyferriprotoporphyrin, has a similar iron catalytic active center like the peroxidases and has previously shown to catalyze polymerization of phenol monomers at pH 12. The insolubility of hematin due to extensive self-aggregation at low pH conditions has prevented its use in the synthesis of conjugated polymers. In this study, we have demonstrated the use of a micellar environment with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSA) for biomimetic synthesis of PPy. The micellar environment helps solubilize hematin, generating nanometer size reactors for the polymerization of pyrrole. The resulting PPy is characterized using UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reveals the formation of an ordered PPy/DBSA complex with conductivities approaching 0.1 S/cm.