Air-Stable Crystalline Polymer-Based Field-Effect Transistors Fabricated by a Thermal Gradient Process

Low-voltage-driven organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with an organic polymer p-type semiconductor poly(2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl) thieno[3,2-b] thiophene) (PBTTT-C-14) as the active layer were explored for the processing and crystallization of polymer semiconductors whose opto-electronic properties critically depend on the microstructure. (HMB)/PBTTT-C-14 mixtures using a thermal gradient system to yield fiber- like crystals with up to 0.8 mu m in width and to fabricate crystalline PBTTT-C-14-based OFETs. In the thermal gradient system, the HMB separated from the HMB/PBTTT-C-14 mixtures and crystallized along the samples' moving direction. The crystals' physical properties characterized by in situ atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy at different temperatures revealed that the HMB-processed PBTTT-C-14 thin film can improve the microstructure and achieve a directionally crystalline structure. These results combined with theoretical calculations show a high degree of pi-stacking within the crystalline PBTTT-C-14 (c-PBTTT-C-14) crystal. c-PBTTT-C-14 has good crystallinity, which enhances the intra- and intermolecular transmission of electrons. Whether in a nitrogen-filled glovebox or in the atmosphere, the electrical performances of the c-PBTTT-C-14-based OFET had a remarkable increase compared with those of the spin-coated PBTTT-C-14-based OFET. This phenomenon was also observed in the crystalline P3HT-based OFET fabricated by the same thermal gradient system.

Automated summary

This study explored the fabrication and crystallization of low-voltage-driven organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) using an organic polymer as the active layer. Crystalline PBTTT-C-14 with excellent electrical performance was obtained through a thermal gradient system, demonstrating the importance of microstructure in determining the opto-electronic properties of polymer semiconductors.