1. Thin-film transistors for large area opto/electronics
- Author
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Wobkenberg, Paul Henrich, Anthopoulos, Thomas, and Bradley, Donal
- Subjects
621.381045 - Abstract
The present work addresses several issues in the field of organic and transparent electronics. One of them is the prevailing high power consumption in state-of-the-art organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). A possible solution could be the implementation of complementary, rather than unipolar logic, but this development is currently inhibited by a distinct lack of high performance electron transporting (n-channel) OFETs. Here, the issue is addressed by investigating a series of solution processable n-channel fullerene molecules in combination with optimized transistor architectures. Furthermore, the trend towards complementary circuit design could be facilitated by employing ambipolar organic semiconductors, such as squaraine molecules or polymer/fullerene blends. These materials can fill the role of p- or n-channel semiconductors and enable the facile implementation of power saving complementary-like logic, eliminating the cost-intensive patterned deposition of discrete p-and n-channel transistors. Alternatively, a patterning method for organic materials adapted from standard photolithography is discussed. Furthermore, ambipolar FETs are found to be capable of light sensing at wavelength of 400-1000 nm. Hence their use in low-cost, organic based optical sensor arrays can be envisioned. Another strategy to reduce the power consumption and operating voltages of OFETs is the use of ultra-thin, self-assembled molecular gate dielectrics, such as alkyl-phosphonic acid molecules. Based on this approach solution processed n- and p-channel OFETs and a complementary organic inverter circuit are demonstrated, which operate at less than 2 Volts. Finally, transparent oxide semiconductors are investigated for use in thin-film transistors. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) films are deposited by means of a low-cost large area compatible spray pyrolysis technique. ZnO transistors exhibit high electron mobility of the order of 10 cm2/Vs and stable operation in air at less than 2 Volts. These results are considered significant steps towards the development of organic and transparent large-area optoelectronics.
- Published
- 2009
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