TY - JOUR
T1 - A latent pigment strategy for robust active layers in solution-processed, complementary organic field-effect transistors
AU - Maqueira-Albo, Isis
AU - Bonacchini, Giorgio Ernesto
AU - Dell'Erba, Giorgio
AU - Pace, Giuseppina
AU - Sassi, Mauro
AU - Rooney, Myles
AU - Resel, Roland
AU - Beverina, Luca
AU - Caironi, Mario
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Solution-processed organic semiconductors enable the fabrication of large-area and flexible electronics by means of cost-effective, solution-based mass manufacturing techniques. However, for many applications an insoluble active layer can offer technological advantages in terms of robustness to processing solvents. This is particularly relevant in field-effect transistors (FETs), where processing of dielectrics or barriers from solution on top of the semiconductor layer typically imposes the use of orthogonal solvents in order not to interfere with the nanometer thick accumulation channel. To this end, the use of latent pigments, highly soluble molecules which can produce insoluble films after a post-deposition thermal cleavage of solubilizing groups, is a very promising strategy. In this contribution, we demonstrate the use of tert-butyloxycarbonyl (t-Boc) functionalized diketopyrrolopyrrole and perylene-diimide small molecules for good hole and electron transporting films. t-Boc thermal cleavage leads to densification of the films, along with a strong structural rearrangement of the deprotected molecules, strongly improving charge mobility in both p- and n-type FETs. We also highlight the robustness of these highly insoluble semiconducting layers to typical and aggressive processing solvents. These results can greatly enhance the degree of freedom in the manufacturing of multi-layered organic electronic devices, offering enhanced stability to harsh processing steps.
AB - Solution-processed organic semiconductors enable the fabrication of large-area and flexible electronics by means of cost-effective, solution-based mass manufacturing techniques. However, for many applications an insoluble active layer can offer technological advantages in terms of robustness to processing solvents. This is particularly relevant in field-effect transistors (FETs), where processing of dielectrics or barriers from solution on top of the semiconductor layer typically imposes the use of orthogonal solvents in order not to interfere with the nanometer thick accumulation channel. To this end, the use of latent pigments, highly soluble molecules which can produce insoluble films after a post-deposition thermal cleavage of solubilizing groups, is a very promising strategy. In this contribution, we demonstrate the use of tert-butyloxycarbonyl (t-Boc) functionalized diketopyrrolopyrrole and perylene-diimide small molecules for good hole and electron transporting films. t-Boc thermal cleavage leads to densification of the films, along with a strong structural rearrangement of the deprotected molecules, strongly improving charge mobility in both p- and n-type FETs. We also highlight the robustness of these highly insoluble semiconducting layers to typical and aggressive processing solvents. These results can greatly enhance the degree of freedom in the manufacturing of multi-layered organic electronic devices, offering enhanced stability to harsh processing steps.
U2 - 10.1039/c7tc03938g
DO - 10.1039/c7tc03938g
M3 - Article
SN - 2050-7534
VL - 5
SP - 11522
EP - 11531
JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry C
IS - 44
ER -