Efficient interface engineering for high-performance fully inkjet-printed organic thin-film devices via functionalized polystyrene interlayers

Abstract

We report efficient interface engineering to realize high-performance fully inkjet-printed organic thin-film transistor (OTFTs) and their applications. By depositing an organo-compatible end-functionalized polystyrene (PS) layer between organic semiconducting layers and inkjet-printed metallic or conductive polymer contacts, simultaneously, well-ordered crystals of organic semiconductors and reduced contact resistance were delivered, resulting in much improved carrier transport and carrier injection abilities. These results may be attributed to the introduction of organo-compatible surface properties that requires less activation energy for carrier transport and carrier injection. This methodology is compatible to high-speed and low-temperature printing technologies, therefore it can pave a promising route for realizing high-performance printed thin-film devices including TFTs, sensors, and light-emitting device applications.