Organic bendable and stretchable field effect devices for sensing applications

Abstract

In this paper we propose a detailed investigation on the electrical response of Organic Field Effect Transistors (OFETs) assembled on flexible plastic substrates to mechanical deformations. We will demonstrate that, by applying a surface deformation by an external mechanical stimulus we are inducing morphological and structural changes in the organic semiconductor, giving rise to a marked, reproducible and reversible variation of the device output current. We will show how the intrinsic properties of the employed active layers play a crucial role in determining the final sensitivity to the mechanical deformation. Finally we will also demonstrate that the fabricated flexible system can be successfully employed for different applications that go from the detection of bio-mechanical parameters (joints motion, breath rate, etc.) in the wearable electronics field, to tactile transduction for the realization of artificial “robot skins”.