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Small-molecule additives for organic thin film transistors

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Abstract

Although much research progress has recently been achieved in solution-soluble, small-molecule, organic semiconductors, their randomly oriented crystals still remain as an issue that leads to nonuniform charge transport and severely degrades performance consistency of organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). In the paper, we reviewed the various small-molecule additives that have been reported to blend with these semiconductors in order to reduce their crystal misorientation and mobility variations of OTFTs. By mainly studying the examples of a representative small-molecule organic semiconductor 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene, we intend to disclose the important effects of the various additives on controlling the semiconductor crystallization, film morphology, and charge transport. This work can be facilely employed to align the crystal orientation and tweak the electrical performance of newly discovered small-molecule organic semiconductors, and will provide an in-depth understanding of the important application in high-performance, solution-based, large-area organic electronics devices.

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Fig. 7

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Fig. 8

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Zhengran He

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, NY, 10027, USA

    Ziyang Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of the Ministry of Education, and Institute of Photoelectric Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning, China

    Sheng Bi

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He, Z., Zhang, Z. & Bi, S. Small-molecule additives for organic thin film transistors. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 20899–20913 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-02505-4

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