3 - Hybrid and nanocomposite materials for flexible organic electronics applications

Abstract

Flexible organic electronics have progressed from organic-only semiconductor devices, based on thin films of organic materials (small molecules and polymers) to hybrid and nanocomposite materials, a family of truly advanced materials designed at the nanoscale that offers enhancements in device performance and a reduction in production costs over traditional inorganic predecessors. These hybrid and nanocomposite materials are attractive because of the potentially wide range of available organic semiconductors (both small molecule and polymeric) and nanoparticle types (carbon allotrope, metal oxide, metal nanostructure, etc.). Here, we emphasize the variety and potential of these materials and introduce some of the production methods, properties, and limitations of their use in flexible electronics applications.