Patterning Organic Thin-film Transistors by Differential Microstructure

本研究的目的是提高对有机半导体与自组装单层之间相互作用的基本理解，并将其应用于有机薄膜晶体管的低成本，高通量图像化技术的开发。该方法是利用选择性化学修饰表面的成膜特性，并通过不同的微观结构诱导图案。本项目将探索由界面相互作用驱动的有机半导体分子的排序。在存在相互作用的晶体管通道中，高度有序促进了高迁移率。器件周围的薄膜区域不存在相互作用，由随机定向分子的高电阻率区域、电绝缘器件和产生自图型组成。各种各样的半导体将被用作有源层，并结合各种表面处理。将建立有机半导体和自组装单层的化学结构之间的相关性，以及它们最终的薄膜微观结构和电性能，并用于生成控制该技术的限制和适用性的设计规则。这项研究将提供有机薄膜晶体管图案化的方法。这一进展可能会加速有机电子器件的商业化。这个跨学科项目不仅将为维克森林大学物理、化学、材料科学和工程专业的研究生和本科生创造一个交叉训练的环境，同时还将通过为当地高中生、福赛斯技术社区大学生和少数民族学生提供研究机会，培养社区参与。他们将接受半导体制造和表征技术方面的培训，这将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.