Solution processed metal-oxides for organic electronic devices

Organic electronic devices largely benefit from the smart introduction of inorganic functional materials. Among them, metal-oxide semiconductors have evolved as powerful interface materials that facilitate charge injection/extraction into/out of organic devices. Substantially enhanced device characteristics of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells (OSCs), and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have been achieved along with a significant improvement in lifetime. In many of these examples, the metal-oxides have been prepared in vacuum processes. To meet the demands of solution processing of organic electronics, solution based methods for functional metal-oxides have been developed. It is the objective of this feature article to provide an overview of the impressive recent progress in finding routes for low temperature solution processing of metal-oxides that in terms of functionality are suitable to replace their vacuum processed analogues as building blocks in organic electronic devices.