Recent Progress in Nonlithographic Patterning and Printing of Nano-thick Functional Materials and Devices

Abstract

There are many applications and potentially new technologies that can stem from the use of functional organic and hybrid materials. Currently, processing and fabrication of organic-based electronic, optical, and optoelectronic materials and devices is carried by-inlarge using traditional techniques such as spin coating [SC], dip coating, and vacuum thermal deposition. However, these techniques are either limited to certain substrate geometry or costly and time consuming. A tremendous advantage can be gained by incorporating printing techniques in the processing and fabrication of organic materials and devices. Printing methods such as ink jet allows not only for materials processing but also on the fly patterning. Moreover, the myriad of opportunities inkjet offers such as combinatorial optimization of some properties of polymer electrodes can be very useful in device fabrication. In this regard, We will discuss the use of combinatorial inkjet techniques to control the deposition and sheet resistivity of conducting polymers currently used in organic light-emitting devices and solar cells. With this approach a library of electrodes with various sheet resistivities can be made in few seconds, a result that is otherwise difficult, if not impossible, with traditional fabrication methods. We will present the impact of this method on actual device fabrication.