The field of organic electronics has been developed vastly in the past two decades due to its promise for low cost, lightweight, mechanical flexibility, versatility of chemical design and synthesis, and ease of processing. The performance and lifetime of these devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), photovoltaics (OPVs), and field-effect transistors (OFETs), are critically dependent on the properties of both active materials and their interfaces. Interfacial properties can be controlled ranging from simple wettability or adhesion between different materials to direct modifications of the electronic structure of the materials. In this Feature Article, the strategies of utilizing surfactant-modified cathodes, hole-transporting buffer layers, and self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified anodes are highlighted. In addition to enabling the production of high-efficiency OLEDs, control of interfaces in both conventional and inverted polymer solar cells is shown to enhance their efficiency and stability; and the tailoring of source–drain electrode–semiconductor interfaces, dielectric–semiconductor interfaces, and ultrathin dielectrics is shown to allow for high-performance OFETs.

Interface Engineering for Organic Electronics

Remarkable progress has been made in developing high performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and the mobility of OFETs has been approaching the values of polycrystalline silicon, meeting the requirements of various electronic applications from electronic papers to integrated circuits. In this review, the key points for development of high mobility OFETs are highlighted from aspects of molecular engineering, process engineering and interface engineering. The importance of other factors, such as impurities and testing conditions is also addressed. Finally, the current challenges in this field for practical applications of OFETs are further discussed.

25th anniversary article: key points for high-mobility organic field-effect transistors.

Principal goals in organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) gate dielectric research include achieving: (i) low gate leakage currents and good chemical/thermal stability, (ii) minimized interface trap state densities to maximize charge transport efficiency, (iii) compatibility with both p- and n- channel organic semiconductors, (iv) enhanced capacitance to lower OTFT operating voltages, and (v) efficient fabrication via solution-phase processing methods. In this Review, we focus on a prominent class of alternative gate dielectric materials: self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and multilayers (SAMTs) of organic molecules having good insulating properties and large capacitance values, requisite properties for addressing these challenges. We first describe the formation and properties of SAMs on various surfaces (metals and oxides), followed by a discussion of fundamental factors governing charge transport through SAMs. The last section focuses on the roles that SAMs and SAMTs play in OTFTs, such as surface treatments, gate dielectrics, and finally as the semiconductor layer in ultra-thin OTFTs.

Molecular self-assembled monolayers and multilayers for organic and unconventional inorganic thin-film transistor applications

Development of nanotechnology calls for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of nanomaterials on biological systems. Autophagy is a lysosome-based degradative pathway which plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Previous studies have shown that nanoparticles from various sources can induce autophagosome accumulation in treated cells. However, the underlying mechanism is still not clear. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials and have been reported to induce autophagosome accumulation. In this study, we found that AuNPs can be taken into cells through endocytosis in a size-dependent manner. The internalized AuNPs eventually accumulate in lysosomes and cause impairment of lysosome degradation capacity through alkalinization of lysosomal pH. Consistent with previous studies, we found that AuNP treatment can induce autophagosome accumulation and processing of LC3, an autophagosome marker protein. However, degradation of the autophagy substrate p62...

Gold Nanoparticles Induce Autophagosome Accumulation through Size-Dependent Nanoparticle Uptake and Lysosome Impairment

Contact engineering in organic field-effect transistors

We demonstrate tuning of hole injection barriers in bottom contact triisopropylsilylethynyl pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) by forming the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiophenol, 4-fluorothiophenol, or pentafluorothiophenol on the pristine Ag electrode. The work functions of SAM-treated Ag electrodes are measured by Kelvin probe method. The TIPS-pentacene OTFT devices were fabricated by a drop-cast method with a micropipette like an inkjet printing. The OTFTs with pentafluorothiophenol-Ag electrodes as source and drain exhibit carrier mobility of 0.17cm2∕Vs and on/off current ratio of 105 because of almost no hole injection barrier to TIPS pentacenes. The SAM-treated Ag electrodes are robust over repeated electrical scans of 100cycles.

Tuning of Ag work functions by self-assembled monolayers of aromatic thiols for an efficient hole injection for solution processed triisopropylsilylethynyl pentacene organic thin film transistors

Detection of TrkB receptors distributed in cultured hippocampal neurons through bioconjugation between highly luminescent (quantum dot-neutravidin) and (biotinylated anti-TrkB antibody) on neurons by combined atomic force microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope.

The structural and functional plasticity of Aplysia mechanosensory presynaptic neurons has been studied in relation with the mechanism underlying learning and memory. Long-term facilitation (LTF), which is a well-known cellular model for long-term memory in Aplysia, is accompanied by new synaptic structural growth or change. We developed a combined atomic force microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope (AFM-CLSM) system integrated with a MATLAB routine for image processing to concurrently obtain high-resolution 3-dimensional (3D) outer-surface morphological images and 3D interior fluorescence images. With our combined AFM-CLSM system, volumetric changes in the presynaptic structures (varicosities) of Aplysia live sensory-motor neuron cocultures were observed. The spatial distribution of synaptic vesicle molecules in the preexisting varicosities was monitored together with a volumetric change in the varicosities. Our combined AFM-CLSM system is successfully adapted for measuring learning-related st...

Aee-Young Park

Papers

Tuning of Ag work functions by self-assembled monolayers of aromatic thiols for an efficient hole injection for solution processed triisopropylsilylethynyl pentacene organic thin film transistors

Detection of TrkB receptors distributed in cultured hippocampal neurons through bioconjugation between highly luminescent (quantum dot-neutravidin) and (biotinylated anti-TrkB antibody) on neurons by combined atomic force microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope.

Presynaptic Structure of Aplysia Single Live Neuron by Atomic Force and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope