Trace Dual-Crosslinkable Additives Enable Direct Microlithography for Enhanced Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Area of Science:

• Organic electronics
• Materials science
• Supramolecular chemistry

Background:

• Micro/nano-patterning is essential for advanced organic electronic devices.
• Direct microlithography (DML) is widely used but often requires high crosslinker concentrations, degrading performance.
• Existing methods struggle to balance patterning precision with electrical properties in organic electronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel crosslinking strategy for direct microlithography in organic electronics.
• To improve the electrical performance and operational stability of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).
• To enable high-density integration and complex architectures in organic devices.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of a polyrotaxane supramolecular crosslinker (PR) into poly(benzodifurandione) (PBFDO).
• Utilizing combined supramolecular (hydrogen bonding) and covalent (UV-triggered) crosslinking.
• Fabrication and characterization of OECTs using the PR-PBFDO composite.

Main Results:

• Achieved precise patterning of PBFDO with feature sizes below 1 µm at trace crosslinker loading (<0.1 wt%).
• PR crosslinking enhanced molecular ordering and ionic conduction, boosting OECT performance.
• OECTs showed a ~10x increase in ON/OFF ratio, 42% higher µC*, and improved stability.

Conclusions:

• The multifunctional PR crosslinker provides a scalable solution for high-performance, high-density organic electronics.
• This approach overcomes limitations of conventional DML, enabling precise patterning without compromising electrical properties.
• The study highlights the potential of supramolecular chemistry in advancing organic electronic device fabrication.