Photoresponsive organic field-effect transistors involving photochromic molecules

In recent years, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with high performance and novel multifunctionalities have attracted considerable attention. Meanwhile, featured with reversible photoisomerization and the corresponding variation in color, chemical/physical properties, photochromic molecules have been applied in sensors, photo-switches and memories. Incorporation of photochromic molecules to blend in the device functional layers or to modify the interfaces of OFETs is common way to build photo-transistors. In this review, we focus on the recent advantages on the study of photoresponsive transistors involving one of three typical photochromic compounds spiropyran, diarylethene and azobenzene. Three main strategies are demonstrated in detail. Firstly, photochromic molecules are doped in active layers or combined with semiconductor structure thus forming photoreversible active layers. Secondly, the modification of dielectric layer/active layer interface is mainly carried out by bilayer dielectric. Thirdly, the photo-isomerization of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the electrode/active layer interface can reversibly modulate the work functions and charge injection barrier, result in bifunctional OFETs. All in all, the combination of photochromic molecules and OFETs is an efficient way for the fabrication of organic photoelectric devices. Photoresponsive transistors consisted of photochromic molecules are potential candidate for real applications in the future.     

Corannulene derivatives for organic electronics: From molecular engineering to applications

This paper intends to provide an overview for using corannulene derivatives in organic electronics such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic solar cells (OSCs), and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). We highlight the rational design strategies, tuning molecular orbital energy levels and arrangement in single crystals of corannulenes. The topological structure and properties of corannulene make it a unique candidate for organic electronics.     

High-performance organic field-effect transistors: molecular design, device fabrication, and physical properties

In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Their real applications require further development of device performance. OFETs consist of organic semiconductors, dielectric layers, and electrodes. Organic semiconductors play a key role in determining the device characteristics. The properties of the organic semiconductors, such as molecular structure and packing, as well as molecular energy levels, can be properly controlled by molecular design. Therefore, we designed and synthesized a series of organic molecules. The synthesized organic semiconductors exhibit excellent field-effect properties due to strong intermolecular interactions and proper molecular energy levels. Meanwhile, the influence of the device fabrication process, organic semiconductor/dielectric layer interface, and organic layer/electrode contact on the device performance was investigated. A deep understanding of these factors is helpful to improve field-effect properties. Furthermore, single-crystal field-effect transistors are highlighted because the single-crystal-based FETs can provide an accurate conducting mechanism of organic semiconductors and higher device performance as compared with thin film FETs.     

Electron transport in solution-grown TIPS-pentacene single crystals: Effects of gate dielectrics and polar impurities

The n-channel behavior has been occasionally reported in the organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) that usually exhibit p-channel transport only. Reconfirmation and further examination of these unusual device performances should deepen the understanding on the electron transport in organic semiconductors. 6,13-bis(triisopropyl-silylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-pentacene), a widely examined p-channel material as Au is used for source-drain electrodes, has recently been reported to exhibit electron transport when grown from non-polar solvent on divinyltetramethyldisiloxanebis (benzocyclobutene) (BCB) dielectric, spurring the study on this unusual electron transport. This paper describes FET characteristics of solution-grown TIPS-pentacene single crystals on five polymer gate dielectrics including polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(4-vinyl phenol) (PVP), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)). In addition to the p-channel behavior, electron transport occurs in the crystals on PMMA, PS, thick PVA (40 nm) and a bilayer dielectric of PMMA on P(VDF-TrFE-CFE), while does not on PVP and thin PVA (2 nm). The two distinct FET characteristics are consistent with the previous reported trap effect of hydroxyl groups (in PVP and PVA) and reduced injection barrier by Na⁺ ions (as impurity in PVA). The highest electron mobility of 0.48 cm² V^-1 s^-1 has been achieved in the crystals on PMMA. Furthermore, the electron transport is greatly attenuated after the crystals are exposed to the vapor of a variety of polar solvents and the attenuated electron transport partially recovers if the crystals are heated, indicating the adverse effect of polar impurities on electron transport. By reconfirming the n-channel behavior in the OFETs based on TIPS-pentacene, this work has implications for the design of n-channel and ambipolar OFETs.     

Solution-processed organic field-effect transistors and unipolar inverters using self-assembled interface dipoles on gate dielectrics

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of polarized and nonpolarized organosilane molecules on gate insulators induced tunable threshold voltage shifting and current modulation in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) made from solution-deposited 5,5'-bis(4-hexylphenyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (6PTTP6), defining depletion-mode and enhancement-mode operation. p-Channel inverters were made from pairs of OFETs with an enhancement-mode driver and a depletion-mode load to implement full-swing and high-gain organic logic circuits. The experimental results indicate that the shift of the transfer characteristics is governed by the built-in electric field of the SAM. The effect of surface functional groups affixed to the dielectric substrate on the grain appearance and film mobility is also determined.     

Aldol Condensation for the Construction of Organic Functional Materials

Aldol condensation is a cost-effective and sustainable synthetic method, offering the advantages of low complexity, substrate universality, and high efficiency. Over the past decade, it has become popular for creating next-generation organic functional materials, particularly rigid-rod conjugated (semi)conductors. This review focuses on conjugated small molecules, oligomers, and polymeric (semi)conductors synthesized through aldol condensation, with emphasis on their remarkable features in advancing n-type organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), and organic thermoelectrics (OTEs) as well as NIR-II photothermal conversion. Coherence character, optical properties, microstructure, and chain conformation are investigated to understand material-property relationships. Future applications and challenges in this area are also discussed.     

1,2,5,6-Naphthalenediimide-based conjugated copolymers linked by ethynyl units

Two copolymers of P1 and P2 comprising benzothiadiazole, 1,4-bis(dodecyloxy)-benzene units were synthesized by Sonogashira coupling polymerization based on ethynyl-linked 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide.Their thermal, optical,electrochemical as well as charge transport properties were studied. Bottom-gate top-contact organic field-effect transistors(OFETs) measurements of P1 and P2 thin films showed different charge transport behaviors. P1 displayed pure electron transport behaviors in OFETs with electron mobility up to 10~(-3 )cm~2·V~(-1)·s~(-1), while P2 exhibited hole transport features. The molecular structure analysis revealed that the structure of P1 has the acceptor-linker-acceptor′(A-L-A′) characteristic, and P2 possesses the donor-linker-acceptor(D-L-A) structure feature. The results demonstrate that different molecular structures lead them to have distinct charge transport behaviors. In particular, the first pure electron transport copolymer in OFETs based on 1,2,5,6-naphthalenediimide is achieved.     

Azulene-based organic functional molecules for optoelectronics

Design and synthesis of new organic functional materials with improved performance or novel properties are of great importance in the field of optoelectronics. Azulene, as a non-alternant aromatic hydrocarbon, has attracted rising attention in the last few years. Different from most common aromatic hydrocarbons, azulene has unique characteristics, including large dipole moment, small gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). However, the design and synthesis of azulene-based functional materials are still facing several challenges. This review focuses on the recent development of organic functional materials employing azulene unit. The synthesis of various functionalized azulene derivatives is summarized and their applications in optoelectronics are discussed, with particular attention to the fields including nonlinear optics (NLO), organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), solar cells, and molecular devices.     

二萘嵌苯二酰亚胺衍生物的半导体性质

应用密度泛函理论研究了四种二萘嵌苯二酰亚胺(PDI)(N,N'-二萘嵌苯-3,4,9,10-四羧酸二酰亚胺(1), N,N'-二(3-氯苯甲基)二萘嵌苯-3,4,9,10-四羧酸二酰亚胺(2), N,N'-二(3-氟苯甲基)二萘嵌苯-3,4,9,10-四羧酸二酰亚胺(3)和N,N'-二(3,3-二氟苯甲基)二萘嵌苯-3,4,9,10-四羧酸二酰亚胺(4))半导体材料的最高占据轨道和最低未占据轨道能量、离子化能和电子亲和能以及在电荷传导过程中的重组能. 与化合物2-4的最高占据轨道和最低未占据轨道能量变化相同, 在PDI分子外围引入氯苯甲基或氟苯甲基后导致化合物2-4的绝热电子亲和能有不同程度的增加. 应用Marcus电子传导理论, 计算了这四种半导体材料应用于有机场效应晶体管在电子传递过程中的电子耦合和迁移率. 计算结果表明:这四种化合物相对于金属金电极而言具有较小的电子注入势垒, 是优良的n型半导体材料. 计算的这四种半导体材料的电子传输迁移率分别为5.39, 0.59, 0.023和0.17 cm2·V-1·s-1. 通过研究化合物分子在还原过程中几何结构变化和在化合物3晶体中不同类型的电子传递路径, 合理地解释了化合物1-4在有机场效应晶体管电荷迁移过程中具有较高的电子迁移率.     

有机场效应晶体管和分子电子学研究进展

近几年来,有机场效应晶体管在材料和器件方面都取得了长足的进展,成为分子电子学的一个重要方向。本文从有机半导体材料设计、有机半导体器件的构筑、单分子电子器件和纳米管在电子器件中的应用等方面,简单综述了有机场效应晶体管和分子电子学的最新研究进展。     

Current versus gate voltage hysteresis in organic field effect transistors

Abstract  Research into organic field effect transistors (OFETs) has made significant advances—both scientifically and technologically—during the last decade, and the first products will soon enter the market. Printed electronic circuits using organic resistors, diodes and transistors may become cheap alternatives to silicon-based systems, especially in large-area applications. A key parameter for device operation, besides long term stability, is the reproducibility of the current–voltage behavior, which may be affected by hysteresis phenomena. Hysteresis effects are often observed in organic transistors during sweeps of the gate voltage (V _GS). This hysteresis can originate in various ways, but comparative scientific investigations are rare and a comprehensive picture of “hysteresis phenomena” in OFETs is still missing. This review provides an overview of the physical effects that cause hysteresis and discusses the importance of such effects in OFETs in a comparative manner. Graphical abstract        

Progress of pyrene-based organic semiconductor in organic field effect transistors

Thanks to the pure blue emitting, high planarity, electron rich and ease of chemical modification, pyrene has been thoroughly investigated for applications in organic electronics such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic field effect transistors (OFETs), and organic solar cells (OSCs). Especially, great progresses have been made of pyrene-based organic semiconductors for OFETs in past decades. Due to the difference of molecular structure, pyrene-based organic semiconductors are divided into three categories, pyrene as terminal group, pyrene as center core and fused pyrene derivatives. This minireview gives a brief introduction of the structure-property relationship and application in OFETs about most of pyrene-based semiconducting materials since 2006, illustrating that pyrene is a good building block to construct semiconductors with superior transport property for OFETs. Finally, we provide a summary concerning the methodology to improve the transport property of the pyrene-based semiconducting materials as well as an outlook.     

Synergistic Effects of Self-Assembled Monolayers in Solution-Processed 6,13-Bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)Pentacene Transistors

Organic semiconductors are highly interface-sensitive, and therefore chemical functionalization using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is often adopted to tailor their properties. This study clarifies the synergistic effects of electrode and dielectric SAMs on the behavior of solution-processed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Utilization of a self-consistent device model enables a physically robust treatment of the measured electrical characteristics of the OFETs, thus providing highly reliable materials, interface, morphology, and transport parameters. These parameters are further extended and correlated to build a comprehensive picture on trap energy and injection-transport relationship, finally revealing a set of fundamental insights into chemically modified OFETs.     

有机场效应晶体管应用于化学及生物传感的研究进展

有机场效应晶体管(OFETs)是以有机半导体材料作为有源层的晶体管器件。和传统的无机半导体器件相比,由于其具有成本低、易加工、柔性好和生物相容性而被人们广泛研究,在多种化学和生物传感器领域具有潜在而广泛的应用前景。本文简单介绍了OFETs的结构和工作原理,总结了近几年来OFETs在化学及生物传感方面的研究进展,最后对OFETs的发展方向做了归纳和展望。     

Enhanced mobility and environmental stability in all organic field‐effect transistors: The role of high dipole moment solvent

Low‐operating voltage, high mobility, and stable organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) using polymeric dielectrics such as pristine poly(4‐vinyl phenol) (PVP) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), dissolved in solvents of high dipole moment, have been achieved. High dipole moment solvents such as propylene carbonate and dimethyl sulfoxide used for dissolving the polymer dielectric enhance the charge carrier mobilities by three orders of magnitude in pentacene OFETs compared with low dipole moment solvents. Fast switching circuits with patterned gate PVP‐based pentacene OFETs demonstrated a switching frequency of 75 kHz at input voltages of |5 V|. The frequency response of the OFETs is attributed to a high degree of dipolar‐order in dielectric films obtained from high‐polarity solvents and the resulting energetically ordered landscape for transport. Remarkably, these pentacene‐based OFETs exhibited high stability under bias stress and in air with negligible shifts in the threshold voltage. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1533–1542     

Halogenated 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-5,7,12,14-tetraazapentacene: applications for ambipolar air-stable organic field-effect transistors

Density functional theory calculations were performed to explore the influence of halogenation on the reorganization energies (λ), adiabatic ionization potentials (IPs), adiabatic electron affinities (EAs), and air stabilities of a series of pentacene (PENT) and tetraceno[2,3-b]thiophene (TbTH) derivatives. According to calculated IP and EA values, all well-known PENT and TbTH derivatives in this paper are air-stable p-channel but not air-stable n-channel organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) due to insufficient EAs, consistent with experimental observations. The calculated results show that attaching two or more halogen atoms onto air-unstable 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-5,7,12,14-tetraazapentacene (TIPS-N4PENT) is sufficient for promoting ambipolar air-stable properties. The electronic coupling and band structure calculations indicate that halogenated TIPS-N4PENT derivatives have potential applications in high-performance ambipolar air-stable OFETs. They also provide rational guidelines for the design of ambipolar air-stable organic semiconductors (OSCs).     

Tailoring and patterning of dielectric interfaces for the development of advanced organic field-effect transistors

The progress of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) has led to the advent of a new area of printed and/or flexible electronics. In organic transistors and circuits, the interface between a gate insulator (GI) and an organic semiconductor (OS) plays a critical role on the electrical performance together with the functionality, the reliability and the long-term stability. In this review, we describe the basic principles of engineering a variety of the GI/OS interfaces for the development of advanced OFETs from the framework of the surface morphology and the physico-chemical surface interactions. We also discuss the dielectric interface modification and the resultant device performance of the OFETs.     

Embedding pyridine units in acceptors to construct donor-acceptor conjugated polymers

Embedding pyridine units into donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated polymer backbones results in lowered lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) and improved coplanarity of polymer backbones by the non-bonding interactions, leading to high-performance semiconducting polymers.     

Perfluoropentacene: high-performance p-n junctions and complementary circuits with pentacene

We report the synthesis and characterization of perfluoropentacene as an n-type semiconductor for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Perfluoropentacene is a planar and crystalline material that adopts a herringbone structure as observed for pentacene. OFETs with perfluoropentacene were constructed using top-contact geometry, and an electron mobility of 0.11 cm2 V-1 s-1 was observed. Bipolar OFETs with perfluoropentacene and pentacene function at both negative and positive gate voltages. The improved p-n junctions are probably due to the similar d-spacings of both acenes. Complementary inverter circuits were fabricated, and the transfer characteristics exhibit a sharp inversion of the output signal with a high-voltage gain.