Molecular Anchoring Strategies for Enhanced Thermal Stability in Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Semiconductor Physics

Background:

• Thermally stable organic transistors are essential for reliable performance in high-temperature applications.
• Developing organic semiconductors with both thermal stability and high charge transport remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a thermally stable, high-performance organic semiconductor for transistors.
• To investigate the effect of molecular design on thermal stability and charge transport properties.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of a phenyl-anchored unit into a [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT) derivative, named BTBT-PO8OP.
• Fabrication and characterization of organic transistors using the novel semiconductor.
• Evaluation of charge transport properties and thermal stability under elevated temperatures (up to 145 °C).

Main Results:

• BTBT-PO8OP-based organic transistors achieved a high charge carrier mobility of 2.68 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ with excellent uniformity.
• The phenyl anchor effectively restricted molecular curling and contraction under thermal stress, preserving molecular order.
• Demonstrated superior thermal stability compared to the mainstream C8-BTBT material, maintaining performance at 145 °C.

Conclusions:

• The designed BTBT-PO8OP derivative offers a promising solution for thermally stable, high-performance organic transistors.
• Anchor-structure strategies are effective in developing robust organic semiconductors for demanding electronic applications.
• This research advances the development of organic electronics for high-temperature and thermally challenging environments.