The optoelectronic properties of polymeric semiconductor materials can be utilized for the fabrication of organic electronic and photonic devices. When key structural requirements are met, these materials exhibit unique properties such as solution processability, large charge transporting capabilities, and/or broad optical absorption. In this review recent developments in the area of π-conjugated polymeric semiconductors for organic thin-film (or field-effect) transistors (OTFTs or OFETs) and bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic (or solar) cell (BHJ-OPV or OSC) applications are summarized and analyzed.

π-Conjugated Polymers for Organic Electronics and Photovoltaic Cell Applications†

An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof

Xugang Guo,*,† Antonio Facchetti,*,‡,§ and Tobin J. Marks*,‡ †Department of Materials Science and Engineering, South University of Science and Technology of China, No. 1088, Xueyuan Road, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China ‡Department of Chemistry and the Materials Research Center, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States Polyera Corporation, 8045 Lamon Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077, United States

Imide- and Amide-Functionalized Polymer Semiconductors

In this review, we survey the diversity of structures and functions which are encountered in advanced self-assembled nanomaterials. We highlight their flourishing implementations in three active domains of applications: biomedical sciences, information technologies, and environmental sciences. Our main objective is to provide the reader with a concise and straightforward entry to this broad field by selecting the most recent and important research articles, supported by some more comprehensive reviews to introduce each topic. Overall, this compilation illustrates how, based on the rules of supramolecular chemistry, the bottom-up approach to design functional objects at the nanoscale is currently producing highly sophisticated materials oriented towards a growing number of applications with high societal impact.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2013/NR/C3NR02176A

Supramolecular self-assemblies as functional nanomaterials

The performance of semiconducting polymers has been steadily increasing in the last 20 years. Improved control over the microstructure of these materials and a deeper understanding of how the microstructure affects charge transport are partially responsible for such trend. The development and widespread use of techniques that allow to characterize the microstructure of semiconducting polymers is therefore instrumental for the advance of these materials. This article is a review of the characterization techniques that provide information used to enhance the understanding of structure/property relationships in semiconducting polymers. In particular, the applications of optical and X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning probe techniques in this context are described.

Microstructural Characterization and Charge Transport in Thin Films of Conjugated Polymers

The ability to control the molecular organization of electronically active liquid-crystalline polymer semiconductors on surfaces provides opportunities to develop easy-to-process yet highly ordered supramolecular systems and, in particular, to optimize their electrical and environmental reliability in applications in the field of large-area printed electronics and photovoltaics. Understanding the relationship between liquid-crystalline nanostructure and electrical stability on appropriate molecular surfaces is the key to enhancing the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) to a degree comparable to that of amorphous silicon (a-Si). Here, we report a novel donor−acceptor type liquid-crystalline semiconducting copolymer, poly(didodecylquaterthiophene-alt-didodecylbithiazole), which contains both electron-donating quaterthiophene and electron-accepting 5,5′-bithiazole units. This copolymer exhibits excellent electrical characteristics such as field-effect mobilities as high as 0.33 cm2/V·s a...

Liquid-crystalline semiconducting copolymers with intramolecular donor-acceptor building blocks for high-stability polymer transistors.

Disclosed is a method for forming banks during the fabrication of electronic devices incorporating an organic semiconductor material that includes preparing an aqueous coating composition having at least a water-soluble polymer, a UV curing agent and a water-soluble fluorine compound. This coating composition is applied to a substrate, exposed using UV radiation and then developed using an aqueous developing composition to form the bank pattern. Because the coating composition can be developed using an aqueous composition rather than an organic solvent or solvent system, the method tends to preserve the integrity of other organic structures present on the substrate. Further, the incorporation of the fluorine compound in the aqueous solution provides a degree of control over the contact angles exhibited on the surface of the bank pattern and thereby can avoid or reduce subsequent surface treatments.

Methods of fabricating organic thin film transistors

Disclosed is an organic gate insulating film and an organic thin film transistor using the same, in which a photo-alignment group is introduced into an organic insulating polymer, so that an organic active film has superior alignment, thereby increasing mobility. Further, the organic active film has a larger grain size, enhancing transistor characteristics.

Organic gate insulating film and organic thin film transistor using the same

An organic semiconductor polymer for a thin film transistor, the polymer comprising a unit having n-type semiconductor properties and a unit having p-type semiconductor properties in the polymer backbone, and an organic thin film transistor using the same.

Novel organic semiconductor polymer and organic thin film transistor using the same

Disclosed herein are a composition for forming an organic insulating film and an organic insulating film formed from the composition. The composition comprises an insulating polymer having a maleimide structure, a crosslinking agent and a photoacid generator so as to form a crosslinked structure. The organic insulating film has excellent chemical resistance to organic solvents used in a subsequent photolithographic process and improves the electrical properties of transistors.

Bon Won Koo

Papers

Liquid-crystalline semiconducting copolymers with intramolecular donor-acceptor building blocks for high-stability polymer transistors.

Methods of fabricating organic thin film transistors

Organic gate insulating film and organic thin film transistor using the same

Novel organic semiconductor polymer and organic thin film transistor using the same

Composition for forming organic insulating film and organic insulating film formed from the same