Chong-an Di

A stable solution-processed polymer semiconductor with record high-mobility for printed transistors

Microelectronic circuits/arrays produced via high-speed printing instead of traditional photolithographic processes offer an appealing approach to creating the long-sought after, low-cost, large-area flexible electronics. Foremost among critical enablers to propel this paradigm shift in manufacturing is a stable, solution-processable, high-performance semiconductor for printing functionally capable thin-film transistors — fundamental building blocks of microelectronics. We report herein the processing and optimisation of solution-processable polymer semiconductors for thin-film transistors, demonstrating very high field-effect mobility, high on/off ratio, and excellent shelf-life and operating stabilities under ambient conditions. Exceptionally high-gain inverters and functional ring oscillator devices on flexible substrates have been demonstrated. This optimised polymer semiconductor represents a significant progress in semiconductor development, dispelling prevalent skepticism surrounding practical usability of organic semiconductors for high-performance microelectronic devices, opening up application opportunities hitherto functionally or economically inaccessible with silicon technologies, and providing an excellent structural framework for fundamental studies of charge transport in organic systems.

Critical Role of Alkyl Chain Branching of Organic Semiconductors in Enabling Solution-Processed N-Channel Organic Thin-Film Transistors with Mobility of up to 3.50 cm2 V–1 s–1

Substituted side chains are fundamental units in solution processable organic semiconductors in order to achieve a balance of close intermolecular stacking, high crystallinity, and good compatibility with different wet techniques. Based on four air-stable solution-processed naphthalene diimides fused with 2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)malononitrile groups (NDI-DTYM2) that bear branched alkyl chains with varied side-chain length and different branching position, we have carried out systematic studies on the relationship between film microstructure and charge transport in their organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). In particular synchrotron measurements (grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure) are combined with device optimization studies to probe the interplay between molecular structure, molecular packing, and OTFT mobility. It is found that the side-chain length has a moderate influence on thin-film microstructure but leads to only limited changes in OTFT performance. In contrast, the position of branching point results in subtle, yet critical changes in molecular packing and leads to dramatic differences in electron mobility ranging from ~0.001 to >3.0 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Incorporating a NDI-DTYM2 core with three-branched N-alkyl substituents of C(11,6) results in a dense in-plane molecular packing with an unit cell area of 127 Å(2), larger domain sizes of up to 1000 × 3000 nm(2), and an electron mobility of up to 3.50 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), which is an unprecedented value for ambient stable n-channel solution-processed OTFTs reported to date. These results demonstrate that variation of the alkyl chain branching point is a powerful strategy for tuning of molecular packing to enable high charge transport mobilities.

Fluorescence enhancements of benzene-cored luminophors by restricted intramolecular rotations: AIE and AIEE effects

Photoluminescence of simple arylbenzenes with ready synthetic accessibility is enhanced by two orders of magnitude through aggregate formation; viscosity and temperature effects indicate that the emission enhancement is due to the restriction of their intramolecular rotations in the solid state.

Core-Expanded Naphthalene Diimides Fused with 2-(1,3-Dithiol-2-Ylidene)Malonitrile Groups for High-Performance, Ambient-Stable, Solution-Processed n-Channel Organic Thin Film Transistors

A new class of n-type semiconductors for organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), based on core-expanded naphthalene diimides fused with 2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)malonitrile groups, is reported. The first two representatives of these species, derived from long branched N-alkyl chains, have been successfully used as active layers for high-performance, ambient-stable, solution-processed n-channel OTFTs. Their bottom-gate top-contact devices fabricated by spin-coating methods exhibit high electron mobilities of up to 0.51 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) with current on/off ratios of 10(5)-10(7), and small threshold voltages below 10 V under ambient conditions. As this class of n-type organic semiconductors has relatively low-lying LUMO levels and good film-formation ability, they also displayed good environmental stability even with prolonged exposure to ambient air. Both the device performance and the ambient stability are among the best for n-channel OTFTs reported to date.

Organic Thermoelectric Materials and Devices Based on p‐ and n‐Type Poly(metal 1,1,2,2‐ethenetetrathiolate)s

A series of metal coordination polymers containing 1,1,2,2-ethenetetrathiolate (ett) linking bridge (poly[Ax(M-ett)]) are synthesized. The Seebeck coefficients of these conducting materials are high, and vary according to the center metals and counter cations. The TE device fabricated demonstrates the great potentials of these materials for TE applications.

Interface Engineering: An Effective Approach toward High-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors

By virtue of their excellent solution processibility and flexibility, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are considered outstanding candidates for application in low-cost, flexible electronics. Not only does the performance of OFETs depend on the molecular properties of the organic semiconductors involved, but it is also dramatically affected by the nature of the interfaces present. Therefore, interface engineering, a novel approach towards high-performance OFETs, has attracted considerable attention. In this Account, we focus on recent advances in the study of OFET interfaces--including electrode/organic layer interfaces, dielectric/organic layer interfaces, and organic/organic layer interfaces--that have resulted in improved device performance, enhanced stability, and the realization of organic light-emitting transistors. The electrode/organic layer interface, one of the most important interfaces in OFETs, usually determines the carrier injection characteristics. Focusing on OFETs with copper and silver electrodes, we describe effective modification approaches of the electrode/organic layer interfaces. Furthermore, the influence of electrode morphology on device performance is demonstrated. These results provide novel approaches towards high-performance, low-cost OFETs. The dielectric/organic layer interface is a vital interface that dominates carrier transport; modification of this interface therefore offers a general way to improve carrier transport accordingly. The dielectric layer also affects the device stability of OFETs. For example, high-performance pentacene OFETs with excellent stability are obtained by the selection of a dielectric layer with an appropriate surface energy. The organic/organic layer interface is a newly investigated topic in OFETs. Introduction of organic/organic layer interfaces, such as heterojunctions, can improve device performance and afford ambipolar OFETs. By designing laterally arranged heterojunctions made of organic field-effect materials and light-emitting materials, we realized both light emission and field effects simultaneously in a single OFET. The preceding decade has seen great progress in OFETs. Interface engineering provides a simple but effective approach toward creating high-performance OFETs and will continue to make essential contributions in the development of useful OFET-based devices. The exploration of novel interface engineering applications also merits further attention; the design of gas sensors through a more complete understanding of interface phenomena serves as just one example.

Advances of flexible pressure sensors toward artificial intelligence and health care applications

By virtue of their wide applications in personal electronic devices and industrial monitoring, pressure sensors are attractive candidates for promoting the advancement of science and technology in modern society. Flexible pressure sensors based on organic materials, which combine unique advantages of flexibility and low-cost, have emerged as a highly active field due to their promising applications in artificial intelligence systems and wearable health care devices. In this review, we focus on the fundamentals of flexible pressure sensors, and subsequently on several critical concepts for the exploration of functional materials and optimization of sensing devices toward practical applications. Perspectives on self-powered, transparent and implantable pressure sensing devices are also examined to highlight the development directions in this exciting research field.

Flexible suspended gate organic thin-film transistors for ultra-sensitive pressure detection

The utilization of organic devices as pressure-sensing elements in artificial intelligence and healthcare applications represents a fascinating opportunity for the next-generation electronic products. To satisfy the critical requirements of these promising applications, the low-cost construction of large-area ultra-sensitive organic pressure devices with outstanding flexibility is highly desired. Here we present flexible suspended gate organic thin-film transistors (SGOTFTs) as a model platform that enables ultra-sensitive pressure detection. More importantly, the unique device geometry of SGOTFTs allows the fine-tuning of their sensitivity by the suspended gate. An unprecedented sensitivity of 192 kPa−1, a low limit-of-detection pressure of <0.5 Pa and a short response time of 10 ms were successfully realized, allowing the real-time detection of acoustic waves. These excellent sensing properties of SGOTFTs, together with their advantages of facile large-area fabrication and versatility in detecting various pressure signals, make SGOTFTs a powerful strategy for spatial pressure mapping in practical applications.

Multi‐Functional Integration of Organic Field‐Effect Transistors (OFETs): Advances and Perspectives

Multi-functional organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), an emerging focus of organic optoelectronic devices, hold great potential for a variety of applications. This report introduces recent progress on multi-functional OFETs including OFETs based sensors, phototransistors, light-emitting transistors, memory cells, and magnetic field-effect OFETs. Key strategies towards multi- functional integration of OFETs, which involves the exploration of functional materials, interfaces modifications, modulation of condensed structures, optimization of device geometry, and device integration, are summarized. Furthermore, remaining challenges and perspectives are discussed, giving a comprehensive overview of multi-functional OFETs.

All‐Solution‐Processed, High‐Performance n‐Channel Organic Transistors and Circuits: Toward Low‐Cost Ambient Electronics

Exploration of high-performance solution-processed n-channel organic transistors with excellent stability is a critical issue for the development of powerful printed circuits. Solution-processed, bottom-gate transistors exhibiting a record electron mobility of up to 1.2 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) are reported. The devices show excellent stability, which enables the construction of all-solution-processed flexible circuits with all fabrication procedures performed in air.