Semiconducting polymers thin-film transistors

Hur, S. H. Khang, D. Y. Kocabas, C. Rogers, J. A. 2004. Nanotransfer printing by use of noncovalent surface forces Applications to thin-film transistors that use single-walled carbon nanotube networks and semiconducting polymers. Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 5730-5732. 

Active matrix displays have a thin-film transistor (TFT) switching circuit embedded in the area of each individual pixel. Although the TFT backplanes needed for polymer emissive displays are similar to those developed for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), the TFT circuits must be capable of switching much higher currents than are required for LCDs. For active matrix displays, the luminescent semiconducting polymer and cathode, etc. are deposited directly onto the premanufactured TFT backplane (the anode for the LED pixel is built onto the TFT circuit). In an active matrix display, the pixels are held at constant brightness by the TFT circuit and the image is refreshed at video rates (e. g. 60 Hz). 

In addition to applications as functional materials in OLEDs and OSCs, semiconducting polymers are needed for other (opto)electronic devices as well. With regard to displays, sensors, and radio-frequency identification tags (RFIDs) for example, it is a challenge to create polymer-based organic transistors (thin-film transistors, OTFT field-effect transistors, OFETs). Figure 6.7 sketches an optional OFET design, and additionally shows schematically its principle of operation. 

Semiconducting Organic Molecule/Polymer Composites for Thin-Film Transistors... 

T. Umeda, S. Tokito and D. Kumaki, High-mobility and air-stable organic thin-film transistors with highly ordered semiconducting polymer films. J. Appl. Phys., 101, 054517 (2007). 

QIU 11] Qiu L., Xu Q., Lee W.H. et al., Organic thin-film transistors with a photo-pattemable semiconducting polymer blend . Journal of Materials Chemistry, vol. 21, pp. 15637-15642, 2011. 

---