High-speed organic transistors fabricated using a novel hybrid-printing technique

Printing has received attention as a technique to realize low-cost electronic systems. High performance printed transistors are desired to allow the implementation of augmented system functionality in printed systems. Unfortunately, the low resolution of conventional printing hinders printed transistors from delivering high switching speeds. In this work, we have developed and demonstrated a novel print-and-drag (PND) technique that combines inkjet printing with a dip-pen-like dragging process to create highly scaled features. Using this technique, we have demonstrated highly scaled fully printed transistors and inverters using a state-of-the-art printer. The fully printed inverters have propagation delays as low as 15 mu s due to the highly-scaled device structures. The technique is compatible with multi-nozzle printing, and thus is promising for the realization of low-cost and high performance printed electronics. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.