Spray deposition of organic semiconducting thin-films: Towards the fabrication of arbitrary shaped organic electronic devices

• Published in: Organic electronics Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 1031 - 1038
• Main Authors: Abdellah, Alaa, Fabel, Bernhard, Lugli, Paolo, Scarpa, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Organic electronics; P3HT; Process technology; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solution processing; Spray deposition; Transistors; Process technology; P3HT; Solution processing; Spray deposition; Organic electronics; Semiconductor thin films; Stacking; Polymer; Coated material; Thin film; Thiophene derivative polymer; Manufacturing process; Electronic component; Organic semiconductors; Thin film transistor; Large scale; Cost lowering; Growth from solution
• ISSN: 1566-1199; 1878-5530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2010.02.018

In order to fully exploit the potential of polymer electronics, large-area/low-cost processing technologies suitable for thin-film deposition on arbitrary substrate materials and geometries are necessary. One very promising, yet little examined, deposition technique compatible to large-area industrial-scale processes is provided by spray technology. In this article we present a detailed investigation on the layer formation process during spray deposition of organic thin-films and its relation to solution properties and process parameters. It is demonstrated that the layer formation process can be thought of as a process of successively stacking individual droplets. Microscopy investigations indicate that individual droplets in a spray-coated layer can behave to a certain extent as a continuous layer. The technological framework developed here is successfully applied to the fabrication of organic photo-detecting devices as well as organic thin-film transistors. Gaining insight into the layer formation process represents an important step towards the realization of arbitrary shaped organic electronic devices fabricated by spray deposition.