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A bright future for organic field-effect transistors

Nature Materials volume 5, pages 605–613 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Field-effect transistors are emerging as useful device structures for efficient light generation from a variety of materials, including inorganic semiconductors, carbon nanotubes and organic thin films. In particular, organic light-emitting field-effect transistors are a new class of electro-optical devices that could provide a novel architecture to address open questions concerning charge-carrier recombination and light emission in organic materials. These devices have potential applications in optical communication systems, advanced display technology, solid-state lighting and electrically pumped organic lasers. Here, recent advances and future prospects of light-emitting field-effect transistors are explored, with particular emphasis on organic semiconductors and the role played by the material properties, device features and the active layer structure in determining the device performances.

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Figure 1: Device structure (not to scale) of a carbon nanotube light-emitting transistor.
Figure 2: Schematic representation of the device structures and of the main optoelectronic processes occurring in an OLET and in an OLED.
Figure 3: Electrical characteristics and optoelectronic response of an ambipolar OLET.
Figure 4: Scheme of a light-emitting field-effect transistor based on a two-component layered architecture.

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Acknowledgements

The author is indebted to many co-workers for the extensive work and exciting discussions on the topic of OLETs. Special thanks go to R. Zamboni, R. Capelli, M. Murgia, F. Dinelli, M. A. Loi, C. Santato, F. Cicoira, F. Todescato, S. Toffanin, C. Rost, S. F. Karg, W. Riess, A. Facchetti, T.J. Marks. Financial support from Italian MIUR project FIRB–RBNE033KMA and EU project FP6-IST-015034 OLAS is kindly acknowledged.

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    Michele Muccini

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Muccini, M. A bright future for organic field-effect transistors. Nature Mater 5, 605–613 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1699

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