(Invited) Laser Printed Organic Field-Effect Transistors on Paper

Abstract

Laser printing is a low-cost, environmentally friendly and high-throughput technique that is compatible with flexible substrates. This coating method is ubiquitous in many areas, but, in spite of its clear advantages, it has not been adopted for manufacturing electronic devices. In this presentation, I will introduce the use of laser printing for deposition and patterning of organic thin-film transistors. This solvent-free processing method allowed for simultaneous deposition, purification, and patterning of the organic semiconductor layer and definition of contacts in transistors realized on flexible substrates such as plastic and paper. We performed electrical characterization of the devices and related the results with the structural features extracted from grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering. To define the electrodes, we used aerosol spray laser lithography in conjunction with different metal inks; the pattern was created using a regular toner, which was subsequently selectively removed. We created a grid of transistor devices with variable channel lengths and widths, and obtained good charge carrier mobilities and an excellent tolerance to extreme bending. The success of this method marks an opportunity for a rapid, scalable, environmental friendly and low-cost alternative to current manufacturing techniques for development of flexible, large-area, electronic applications.