Highly Ordered Small Molecule Organic Semiconductor Thin-Films Enabling Complex, High-Performance Multi-Junction Devices

Organic semiconductors have opened up many new electronic applications, enabled by properties like flexibility, low-cost manufacturing, and biocompatibility, as well as improved ecological sustainability due to low energy use during manufacturing. Most current devices are made of highly disordered thin-films, leading to poor transport properties and, ultimately, reduced device performance as well. Here, we discuss techniques to prepare highly ordered thin-films of organic semiconductors to realize fast and highly efficient devices as well as novel device types. We discuss the various methods that can be implemented to achieve such highly ordered layers compatible with standard semiconductor manufacturing processes and suitable for complex devices. A special focus is put on approaches utilizing thermal treatment of amorphous layers of small molecules to create crystalline thin-films. This technique has first been demonstrated for rubrene-an organic semiconductor with excellent transport properties-and extended to some other molecular structures. We discuss recent experiments that show that these highly ordered layers show excellent lateral and vertical mobilities and can be electrically doped to achieve high n- and p-type conductivities. With these achievements, it is possible to integrate these highly ordered layers into specialized devices, such as high-frequency diodes or completely new device principles for organics, e.g., bipolar transistors.

Automated summary

Organic semiconductors have brought about many new electronic applications with their flexibility, low-cost manufacturing, and biocompatibility. However, most current devices made of highly disordered thin-films result in poor transport properties and reduced device performance. In this article, techniques for preparing highly ordered thin-films of organic semiconductors are discussed, aiming to achieve fast and efficient devices as well as novel device types. The focus is on thermal treatment of amorphous layers of small molecules to create crystalline thin-films, which have shown excellent lateral and vertical mobilities and can be electrically doped for high n- and p-type conductivities. By integrating these highly ordered layers into specialized devices, such as high-frequency diodes or bipolar transistors, exciting possibilities for organics can be realized.