Patterning Organic Thin-film Transistors by Differential Microstructure

本研究的目的是加深对有机半导体与自组装单分子膜相互作用的基本认识，并将其应用于开发一种低成本、高通量的有机薄膜晶体管图案化技术。该方法是利用选择性化学修饰表面上的成膜特性，并通过不同的微结构诱导图案化。本项目将探索界面上相互作用驱动的有机半导体分子的有序化。存在相互作用的晶体管通道的高度有序性促进了高迁移率。不存在相互作用的器件周围的薄膜区域由随机取向的分子、电绝缘器件和产生自图案化的高阻区域组成。各种各样的半导体将被用作有源层，并结合各种表面处理。有机半导体和自组装单分子膜的化学结构与它们最终的薄膜微结构和电学性质之间的关系将被建立起来，并被用来产生控制这项技术的极限和适用性的设计规则。这项研究将为有机薄膜晶体管的图案化提供方法。这样的进展可能会加速有机电子设备的商业化。这一跨学科项目不仅将为维克森林大学的研究生和本科生在物理、化学、材料科学和工程方面的交叉培训创造一个环境，同时还将通过为当地高中生、福赛斯科技社区大学生和少数族裔学生提供研究机会来培养社区参与度，这些学生将接受半导体制造和表征技术的培训，使他们具有独特的就业能力。

The objective of this research is to improve the fundamental understanding on the interactions between organic semiconductors and self-assembled monolayers, and to apply it towards the development of a low-cost, high-throughput patterning technique for organic thin-film transistors. The approach is to exploit film-forming properties on selectively chemically modified surfaces and induce patterning by differential microstructure.This project will explore ordering of organic semiconductor molecules driven by interactions at interfaces. A high degree of order in the transistor channels, where the interactions are present, promotes high-mobility. Film regions surrounding the devices, where the interactions are not present, consist of high-resistivity regions of randomly oriented molecules, electrically insulating devices and yielding self-patterning. A wide variety of semiconductors will be employed as active layers, in combination with various surface treatments. Correlations between the chemical structure of the organic semiconductor and self-assembled monolayer, and their eventual film microstructure and electrical properties, will be established and used to generate design rules governing the limits and applicability of this technique.This research will deliver methods for patterning organic thin-film transistors. Such progress may accelerate commercialization of organic electronic devices. This interdisciplinary program not only will create an environment for cross-training graduate and undergraduate students from Wake Forest University in Physics, Chemistry, Material science and Engineering, but at the same time will cultivate community engagement by offering research opportunities for local high-school students, Forsyth Tech community college students and minority students, who will be trained in semiconductor fabrication and characterization techniques that will make them uniquely employable.