Organic Based Flexible Transistors and Electronic Devices

The work outlined in this proposal is directed toward the development of materials and fabrication processes for organic-based complementary circuits. New and improved n-channel (electron transporting) semiconductors will be synthesized and characterized at Northwestern University. These materials will possess a mobility of about 1 cm2/V-s and will be combined with p-channel FET materials such as pentacene (mobility ~ 1 cm2/V-s) to realize an organic complementary circuit technology. The speed of complementary circuits with materials possessing a mobility of 1 cm2/V-s will be equivalent to p-channel FET circuits with a mobility of 10 cm2/V-s, underscoring the importance of developing complementary technology. The fabrication of the transistors will be performed by OrganicID and will include detailed investigations of the best insulator-semiconductor combinations for both top-gate and bottom gate devices. The channel lengths of these devices will extend to below 5 micrometers. The analysis and improvement of injecting contacts will be subcontracted to the University of Texas. The development of a practical organic complementary technology is vital to the business goals of OrganicID which is engaged in building low-cost radio frequency identification tags and other circuitry. Complementary circuits will result in lower power requirements, greater range, and faster speed.