Organic Field-Effect Transistor for Energy-Related Applications: Low-Power-Consumption Devices, Near-Infrared Phototransistors, and Organic Thermoelectric Devices
Xiaochen Ren1, Fangxu Yang1, Xiong Gao1, Shanshan Cheng1, Xiaotao Zhang1, Huanli Dong2, Wenping Hu1, Wenping Hu2 •
About: This article is published in Advanced Energy Materials.The article was published on 2018-08-01. It has received 89 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Organic field-effect transistor & Thermoelectric effect.
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TL;DR: In this article, the effect of the third component on the nanomorphology of the bulk heterojunction and the photovoltaic parameters of ternary organic solar cells is analyzed.
Abstract: Ternary organic solar cells (TSCs) contain a single three-component photoactive layer with a wide absorption window, which is obtained without the need for multiple stacks. Subsequently, TSCs have attracted great interest in the photovoltaics field. Through careful selection of the three (or more) active components that form the photoactive layer, all photovoltaic parameters can be simultaneously enhanced within a TSC — a strategy that has resulted in record efficiencies for single-junction solar cells. In this Review, we outline key developments in TSCs, with a focus on the central role of the third component in achieving record efficiencies. We analyse the effects of the third component on the nanomorphology of the bulk heterojunction and the photovoltaic parameters of TSCs. Moreover, we discuss the charge-transfer and/or energy-transfer mechanisms and nanomorphology models that govern the operation of TSCs. We consider both polymer and small-molecule donors as well as fullerenes and recently developed non-fullerene acceptors. In addition, we summarize the recent success of TSCs in mitigating the stability issues of binary solar cells. Finally, we provide a perspective on the advantages of ternary blends and suggest design strategies for highly efficient and stable devices for commercial photovoltaics. Adding a third component into a binary blend is a promising strategy for simultaneously improving all photovoltaic parameters in organic solar cells. In this Review, we discuss the role of the third component in influencing the energetics, charge-carrier recombination and stability in ternary solar cells.
332 citations
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TL;DR: Fiber-based energy conversion devices (FBECD) are proposed as candidates for effective conversion of human-body energy into electricity for powering wearable electronics and functional materials, fiber fabrication techniques, and device design strategies for different classes of FBECD are comprehensively reviewed.
Abstract: Following the rapid development of lightweight and flexible smart electronic products, providing energy for these electronics has become a hot research topic. The human body produces considerable mechanical and thermal energy during daily activities, which could be used to power most wearable electronics. In this context, fiber-based energy conversion devices (FBECD) are proposed as candidates for effective conversion of human-body energy into electricity for powering wearable electronics. Herein, functional materials, fiber fabrication techniques, and device design strategies for different classes of FBECD based on piezoelectricity, triboelectricity, electrostaticity, and thermoelectricity are comprehensively reviewed. An overview of fiber-based self-powered systems and sensors according to their superior flexibility and cost-effectiveness is also presented. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in the field of fiber-based energy conversion are discussed.
209 citations
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TL;DR: The state-of-the-art protocols for constructing qualified IR OPDs, including new OSCs with excellent photoelectric properties, optimization of active-layer-fabrication processes, and novel device architectures are highlighted.
Abstract: Because of their advantages, including easy tunability of optical and electrical properties by tailoring the molecular structure, flexibility, and compatibility with a low-temperature fabricating process, the use of organic semiconductors (OSCs) as active layers has shown strong competitiveness as candidates for use in next-generation high-sensitivity organic photodetectors (OPDs). Infrared (IR) OPDs that are sensitive to illumination at wavelengths higher than 780 nm have been rapidly developed in recent years driven by potential applications such as remote control, night vision, and imaging as well as biomedical monitoring. In this review, after a brief illustration of the mechanisms, we summarize the recent advances in high-performance IR organic photodiodes (OPDIs) and organic phototransistors (OPTs). We will highlight the state-of-the-art protocols for constructing qualified IR OPDs, including new OSCs with excellent photoelectric properties, optimization of active-layer-fabrication processes, and novel device architectures. Thereafter, we will discuss the IR organic light detector as a platform for integrated applications, such as health monitoring, spectrometric analysis, and electronic eyes. This review aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the design of future IR OPDs and IR-OPD-based integrated practices.
178 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide guidelines for material design and fabrication processes of OFETs with high performance and advanced applications, as well as various approaches for realizing low-voltage of organic devices.
Abstract: Printable organic field effect transistors (OFETs) have been investigated for more than 20 years, aiming at various emerging applications including flexible/wearable electronics, displays and sensors. Since many comprehensive review articles for this field have been published, here we will focus on the recent progress of this field and address the following issues critical to the future applications of OFETs. First, downscaling technologies for the printing of OFETs with fine resolution will be reviewed. The approaches for short channels and small overlapping as well as patterning of organic semiconductors are summarized. Second, various approaches for realizing low-voltage OFETs will be presented, which are critical to the power consumption of organic devices. Specifically, the operational voltages of OFETs have been successfully decreased to several volts by increasing the gate dielectric capacitance and reducing the sub-gap density of states at the channel. This review will provide guidelines for material design and fabrication processes of OFETs with high performance and advanced applications.
102 citations
References
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TL;DR: The focus of this review will be on the performance analysis of π-conjugated systems in OFETs, a kind of device consisting of an organic semiconducting layer, a gate insulator layer, and three terminals that provide an important insight into the charge transport of ρconjugate systems.
Abstract: Since the discovery of highly conducting polyacetylene by Shirakawa, MacDiarmid, and Heeger in 1977, π-conjugated systems have attracted much attention as futuristic materials for the development and production of the next generation of electronics, that is, organic electronics. Conceptually, organic electronics are quite different from conventional inorganic solid state electronics because the structural versatility of organic semiconductors allows for the incorporation of functionality by molecular design. This versatility leads to a new era in the design of electronic devices. To date, the great number of π-conjugated semiconducting materials that have either been discovered or synthesized generate an exciting library of π-conjugated systems for use in organic electronics. 11 However, some key challenges for further advancement remain: the low mobility and stability of organic semiconductors, the lack of knowledge regarding structure property relationships for understanding the fundamental chemical aspects behind the structural design, and realization of desired properties. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are a kind of device consisting of an organic semiconducting layer, a gate insulator layer, and three terminals (drain, source, and gate electrodes). OFETs are not only essential building blocks for the next generation of cheap and flexible organic circuits, but they also provide an important insight into the charge transport of πconjugated systems. Therefore, they act as strong tools for the exploration of the structure property relationships of πconjugated systems, such as parameters of field-effect mobility (μ, the drift velocity of carriers under unit electric field), current on/off ratio (the ratio of the maximum on-state current to the minimum off-state current), and threshold voltage (the minimum gate voltage that is required to turn on the transistor). 17 Since the discovery of OFETs in the 1980s, they have attracted much attention. Research onOFETs includes the discovery, design, and synthesis of π-conjugated systems for OFETs, device optimization, development of applications in radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, flexible displays, electronic papers, sensors, and so forth. It is beyond the scope of this review to cover all aspects of π-conjugated systems; hence, our focus will be on the performance analysis of π-conjugated systems in OFETs. This should make it possible to extract information regarding the fundamental merit of semiconducting π-conjugated materials and capture what is needed for newmaterials and what is the synthesis orientation of newπ-conjugated systems. In fact, for a new science with many practical applications, the field of organic electronics is progressing extremely rapidly. For example, using “organic field effect transistor” or “organic field effect transistors” as the query keywords to search the Web of Science citation database, it is possible to show the distribution of papers over recent years as shown in Figure 1A. It is very clear
2,942 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the double heterojunction was proposed to confine excitons within the active layers, allowing substantially higher internal efficiencies to be achieved, and a full optical and electrical analysis of the double-heterostructure architecture leads to optimal cell design as a function of the optical properties and exciton diffusion lengths of the photoactive materials.
Abstract: In this review, we discuss the physics underlying the operation of single and multiple heterojunction, vacuum-deposited organic solar cells based on small molecular weight thin films. For single heterojunction cells, we find that the need for direct contact between the deposited electrode and the active organics leads to quenching of excitons. An improved device architecture, the double heterojunction, is shown to confine excitons within the active layers, allowing substantially higher internal efficiencies to be achieved. A full optical and electrical analysis of the double heterostructure architecture leads to optimal cell design as a function of the optical properties and exciton diffusion lengths of the photoactive materials. Combining the double heterostructure with novel light trapping schemes, devices with external efficiencies approaching their internal efficiency are obtained. When applied to an organic photovoltaic cell with a power conversion efficiency of 1.0%±0.1% under 1 sun AM1.5 illuminati...
2,722 citations
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TL;DR: Tunnels based on ultrathin semiconducting films or nanowires could achieve a 100-fold power reduction over complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor transistors, so integrating tunnel FETs with CMOS technology could improve low-power integrated circuits.
Abstract: Power dissipation is a fundamental problem for nanoelectronic circuits. Scaling the supply voltage reduces the energy needed for switching, but the field-effect transistors (FETs) in today's integrated circuits require at least 60 mV of gate voltage to increase the current by one order of magnitude at room temperature. Tunnel FETs avoid this limit by using quantum-mechanical band-to-band tunnelling, rather than thermal injection, to inject charge carriers into the device channel. Tunnel FETs based on ultrathin semiconducting films or nanowires could achieve a 100-fold power reduction over complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, so integrating tunnel FETs with CMOS technology could improve low-power integrated circuits.
2,390 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a platform that makes electronics both virtually unbreakable and imperceptible on polyimide polysilicon elastomers, which can be operated at high temperatures and in aqueous environments.
Abstract: Electronic devices have advanced from their heavy, bulky origins to become smart, mobile appliances. Nevertheless, they remain rigid, which precludes their intimate integration into everyday life. Flexible, textile and stretchable electronics are emerging research areas and may yield mainstream technologies. Rollable and unbreakable backplanes with amorphous silicon field-effect transistors on steel substrates only 3 μm thick have been demonstrated. On polymer substrates, bending radii of 0.1 mm have been achieved in flexible electronic devices. Concurrently, the need for compliant electronics that can not only be flexed but also conform to three-dimensional shapes has emerged. Approaches include the transfer of ultrathin polyimide layers encapsulating silicon CMOS circuits onto pre-stretched elastomers, the use of conductive elastomers integrated with organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) on polyimide islands, and fabrication of OFETs and gold interconnects on elastic substrates to realize pressure, temperature and optical sensors. Here we present a platform that makes electronics both virtually unbreakable and imperceptible. Fabricated directly on ultrathin (1 μm) polymer foils, our electronic circuits are light (3 g m(-2)) and ultraflexible and conform to their ambient, dynamic environment. Organic transistors with an ultra-dense oxide gate dielectric a few nanometres thick formed at room temperature enable sophisticated large-area electronic foils with unprecedented mechanical and environmental stability: they withstand repeated bending to radii of 5 μm and less, can be crumpled like paper, accommodate stretching up to 230% on prestrained elastomers, and can be operated at high temperatures and in aqueous environments. Because manufacturing costs of organic electronics are potentially low, imperceptible electronic foils may be as common in the future as plastic wrap is today. Applications include matrix-addressed tactile sensor foils for health care and monitoring, thin-film heaters, temperature and infrared sensors, displays, and organic solar cells.
2,062 citations
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TL;DR: The manufacture of printable elastic conductors comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) uniformly dispersed in a fluorinated rubber is described, which is constructed a rubber-like stretchable active-matrix display comprising integrated printed elastic conductor, organic transistors and organic light-emitting diodes.
Abstract: Stretchability will significantly expand the applications scope of electronics, particularly for large-area electronic displays, sensors and actuators. Unlike for conventional devices, stretchable electronics can cover arbitrary surfaces and movable parts. However, a large hurdle is the manufacture of large-area highly stretchable electrical wirings with high conductivity. Here, we describe the manufacture of printable elastic conductors comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) uniformly dispersed in a fluorinated rubber. Using an ionic liquid and jet-milling, we produce long and fine SWNT bundles that can form well-developed conducting networks in the rubber. Conductivity of more than 100 S cm(-1) and stretchability of more than 100% are obtained. Making full use of this extraordinary conductivity, we constructed a rubber-like stretchable active-matrix display comprising integrated printed elastic conductors, organic transistors and organic light-emitting diodes. The display could be stretched by 30-50% and spread over a hemisphere without any mechanical or electrical damage.
1,616 citations