Buffer layer effect on the structural and electrical properties of rubrene-based organic thin-film transistors

The structural and electrical properties of organic thin-film transistors with rubrene/pentacene and pentacene/rubrene bilayered structures were investigated using x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and x-ray emission spectroscopy. High-quality rubrene thin films with orthorhombic structure were obtained in the rubrene/pentacene bilayer while the pentacene/rubrene bilayer only had an amorphous rubrene phase present. The rubrene/pentacene thin-film transistor shows more desirable current-voltage characteristics compared to the pentacene/rubrene transistor. The overall results suggest that the presence of a chemically active organic buffer layer and its associated crystal structure are crucial in enhancing the structural and electrical properties of rubrene-based transistors.