Self-Assembled Monolayers in Organic Thin-Film Transistor Applications
Summary
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constitute a versatile route to molecularly engineer the interface between organic semiconductors and dielectric or electrode surfaces in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). By spontaneous chemisorption of amphiphilic molecules, SAMs form highly ordered monolayers whose terminal groups can be tailored to adjust surface energy, charge injection barriers and trap densities. Integration of SAMs has enabled systematic control of threshold voltage, improved carrier mobility and enhanced device stability under ambient conditions. The capacity to passivate dielectric surfaces and to introduce specific anchoring functionalities has yielded OTFTs with higher reproducibility and reduced hysteresis. As OTFTs find growing application in flexible circuits, large-area sensors and wearable electronics, SAM-based interface engineering remains a powerful strategy to reconcile the demands of low-voltage operation, mechanical compliance and long-term reliability.
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Technical terms
Self-assembled monolayer (SAM): A single molecular layer formed by spontaneous organisation of amphiphilic molecules on a substrate, used to modify surface properties.
Organic thin-film transistor (OTFT): A field-effect transistor in which the semiconductor layer is a solution-processable or vapour-deposited organic material.
Dielectric layer: An insulating film that separates the gate electrode from the semiconductor, influencing capacitance and threshold voltage.
Carrier mobility: A measure of how quickly charge carriers (electrons or holes) move through a semiconductor under an applied electric field.
Interface passivation: The process of reducing electronic trap states at the semiconductor–insulator or semiconductor–electrode boundary to improve device performance.
Anchoring group: A functional moiety within a SAM molecule (e.g. silane, thiol) that binds covalently or coordinatively to the substrate surface.
References
- Molecular Engineering on Kinetics‐Driven Self‐Assembled Monolayers Working as Auxiliary Layers on Dielectrics in Organic Field‐Effect Transistors. Advanced Electronic Materials (2023).
- Trichlorosilanes as Anchoring Groups for Phenylene‐Thiophene Molecular Monolayer Field Effect Transistors. Advanced Functional Materials (2014).
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