ORGANICS: Elastomeric Stamps for Fabrication of Organic Transistors and Probing Fundamental Limits of their Performance

这项研究的目的是(I)使用不在有机半导体表面引入缺陷的新技术来制造有机场效应晶体管(OFET)，以及(Ii)使用这些器件来探索有机电子的基本极限。这种新的制造方法是基于弹性晶体管印章与高纯度有机分子晶体的叠层。这些独特的单晶OFET将使有机材料的最终性能得以实现，不受结构缺陷或化学杂质的限制。拟议工作的智力价值包括：(I)开发用于OFET制造的新的软接触层压技术，以保持有机晶体的高质量原始表面；(Ii)研究单个表面缺陷对晶体管特性的影响；(Iii)利用自组装单分子膜降低接触电阻；以及(Iv)用表面分析技术研究有机晶体。这项工作将对“塑料”电子学的基础和对有机材料基本传输性质的理解产生重大影响。从拟议的研究中出现的新型冲压技术将在柔性电子产品的许多领域得到应用。该计划的跨学科结构提供了极好的教育、人力资源和外展机会。该项目的教育和外联部分旨在开发新型电子材料和设备方面的创新培训模块。拟议研究的实施将促进对学生的培训，这些学生将接触到最先进的半导体研究设施，并能够在学术或工业环境中追求职业生涯。

The objective of this research is (i) to fabricate the organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) using novel techniques that do not introduce defects at the surface of organic semiconductors, and (ii) to use these devices to explore fundamental limits of organic electronics. The novel fabrication approach is based on lamination of elastomeric transistor stamps against high purity organic molecular crystals. These unique single-crystal OFETs will enable realization of the ultimate performance of organic materials, not limited by structural defects or chemical impurities. The Intellectual Merit of the proposed work consists of (i) development of new soft-contact-lamination techniques for OFET fabrication that preserve the high quality of pristine surface of organic crystals; (ii) studies of the effect of individual surface defects on transistor characteristics; (iii) reduction of the contact resistance using self-assembled monolayers, and (iv) studies of the organic crystals by surface analytical techniques. The work will have a significant impact on foundations of "plastic" electronics and understanding of fundamental transport properties of organic materials. The novel stamping techniques that emerge from the proposed research will find applications in many areas of flexible electronics. The interdisciplinary structure of the program provides excellent educational, human resource and outreach opportunities. The Educational and Outreach part of the project is designed to develop innovative training modules in novel electronic materials and devices. Implementation of the proposed research fosters training of students who will be exposed to the state-of-the-art facilities of semiconductor research, and can pursue careers in either an academic or industrial environment.