Crossover from band-like to thermally activated charge transport in organic transistors due to strain-induced traps.

The temperature dependence of the charge-carrier mobility provides essential insight into the charge transport mechanisms in organic semiconductors. Such knowledge imparts critical understanding of the electrical properties of these materials, leading to better design of high-performance materials for consumer applications. Here, we present experimental results that suggest that the inhomogeneous strain induced in organic semiconductor layers by the mismatch between the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the consecutive device layers of field-effect transistors generates trapping states that localize charge carriers. We observe a universal scaling between the activation energy of the transistors and the interfacial thermal expansion mismatch, in which band-like transport is observed for similar CTEs, and activated transport otherwise. Our results provide evidence that a high-quality semiconductor layer is necessary, but not sufficient, to obtain efficient charge-carrier transport in devices, and underline the importance of holistic device design to achieve the intrinsic performance limits of a given organic semiconductor. We go on to show that insertion of an ultrathin CTE buffer layer mitigates this problem and can help achieve band-like transport on a wide range of substrate platforms.

Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Derivatives of 1,4-bis(trialkylsilylethynyl)benzo[2,3-b:5,6-b']diindolizines.

A new class of nitrogen-containing arene organic semiconductors incorporating fused indolizine units is described. This system, though having a zigzag shape, mimics the electronic properties of its linear analogue pentacene as a result of nitrogen lone pair incorporation into the π-electron system. Solubilizing trialkylsilylethynyl groups were employed to target crystal packing motifs appropriate for field-effect transistor devices. The triethylsilylethynyl derivative yielded hole mobilities of 0.1 cm2 V-1 s-1 and on/off current ratios of 105.

Vibration-assisted crystallization improves organic/dielectric interface in organic thin-film transistors.

Solution processability of organic semiconductors allows high-throughput fabrication on arbitrary substrates at low-cost, but the films often exhibit low performance. Here, we report on a new method for device fabrication, vibration assisted crystallization (VAC) that produces superior films, which approach the fundamental performance limits shown in corresponding single-crystal measurements.

High mobility field-effect transistors with versatile processing from a small-molecule organic semiconductor.

Trialkylgermyl functionalization allows the development of high-performance soluble small-molecule organic semiconductors with mobilities greater than 5 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) . Spray-deposited organic thin-film transistors show a record mobility of 2.2 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and demonstrate the potential for incorporation in large-area, low-cost electronic applications.