Flexible organic field-effect transistors based on electrospun conjugated polymer nanofibers with high bending stability

Abstract

We report on flexible, single electrospun nanofiber field-effect transistors made by a blend of poly(3-decylthiophene) and poly(3-hexylthiophene), assessing for the first time the performances of this class of devices in terms of stability upon repeated tensile bending. Charge-carrier mobilities in the nanofiber-based device are estimated of the order of 10−3cm2/(Vs). Repeated cycles of bending and relaxing are performed, and the evolution of the device current–voltage characteristics is monitored up to 1000 cycles. We find that during bending the mobility is higher than that measured in planar conditions, and that after about 100 bending cycles it rapidly stabilizes. The here observed bending stability suggests a high compatibility of electrospun nanofibers with devices fabricated by roll-to-roll processes, and with bendable or wearable electronics.