Complementary integrated circuits on plastic foil using inkjet printed n- and p-type organic semiconductors: Fabrication, characterization, and circuit analysis

Wiljan Smaal, Charlotte Kjellander, Yongbin Jeong, Ashutosh Tripathi, Bas Van Der Putten, Antonio Facchetti, Henry Yan, Jordan Quinn, John Anthony, Kris Myny, Wim Dehaene, Gerwin Gelinck*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Complementary thin-film transistor circuits composed of 6,13-bis(triisopropyl-silylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-PEN) and a rylene carboxylic diimide derivative for p- and n-channel thin-film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated on flexible foils. The so-called staggered TFT configuration is used, meaning that the semiconductors layers are deposited last. The work-function of the injecting gold electrodes were modified using several self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). For optimized contacts the mobility of the n- and p-channel TFTs was 0.5 cm2/Vs and 0.2 cm2/Vs, respectively. Strongly degraded performance is obtained when the n-channel material was printed on contacts optimized for the p-channel TFT, and vice versa. This illustrates that for CMOS circuits we need careful work-function engineering to allow proper injection for both electrons and holes. We show for the first time that by using a bimolecular mixture for the SAM we can systematically vary the work function, and demonstrate how this affects the performance of discrete n-type and p-type transistors, as well as CMOS inverters and ring oscillators. Under optimal processing conditions we realized complementary 19-stage ring oscillators with 10 μs stage delay operating at 20 V.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1686-1692
Number of pages7
JournalOrganic Electronics
Volume13
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2012

Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant agreement No. 247681 of the COSMIC project.

Keywords

  • Complementary circuits
  • Contact injection
  • Contact modification
  • Energy delay product
  • Ink-jet printing
  • Organic transistor
  • Self-assembled monolayers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Biomaterials

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Complementary integrated circuits on plastic foil using inkjet printed n- and p-type organic semiconductors: Fabrication, characterization, and circuit analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this