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The Key to Making High Mobility Polymer Thin Film Transistors: Nucleation of Crystals Off of the Gate Dielectric

Highlight from section(s) IRG 3, Research

Polymer Thin FilmsWhen conjugated polymer crystals nucleate off of the gate dielectric, the conjugated backbones, shown in red, are all aligned. Charge can easily hop from one grain to another.

Proven strategies for nucleating crystals on the dielectric

  •   Make the dielectric smooth
  •   Coat the dielectric with OTS
  •   Use high boiling point solvent or anneal the film
  •   Use high molecular weight polymers.

Kline, R. J., McGehee, M. D., Fréchet, J. M. J., et al. Macromolecules 38, 3312 (2005)
Kline, R. J., McGehee, M. D. & Toney, M. F., Nature Materials 5, 222 (2006).

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