Plastic electronic devices: From materials design to device applications

Whether molecular solids, oligomers, or polymers, organic materials have been shown to be attractive candidates for both passive and active roles in electronic devices because of their compatibility with high-throughput, low-cost processing techniques and their capability to be precisely functionalized through the techniques of organic synthesis to afford desired performance attributes. Structure at both molecular- and nano-scale will impact attributes such as morphology (surface roughness, grain size), adhesion, mechanical integrity, solubility, and chemical and environmental stability. These factors, in turn, will affect device performance, notably electrical performance (mobility, conductivity, on/off ratio, threshold voltage). The challenges associated with the development of practical organic materials and associated device technologies for “plastic electronics” will be described and the relationships between materials structure and process performance will be discussed.