Printing flexible thin-film transistors

Abstract

Flexible thin-film transistors (f-TFTs) not only attract research attention but also possess significant application potential in various fields, such as consumer electronics, human–machine interfaces, healthcare, multipurpose sensors, and logic circuits. Printing is one of the most appealing technologies for fabricating f-TFTs owing to its low cost, suitability for large-scale fabrication, and possibility to be customized under non-vacuum conditions. Significant advancements have been achieved in the printing of f-TFTs regarding several aspects, including printing techniques, printable materials, device performance, and applications, which are summarized and discussed here. Specifically, this review focuses on the recent developments achieved regarding four typical materials commonly used in printed f-TFTs: low-dimensional materials, carbon-based materials, organic materials, and metal-oxide materials. Furthermore, the actual applications of printed f-TFTs are discussed to highlight the issues in contemporary research, and future outlook and prospects regarding the development of printed f-TFTs are provided.