A perspective on overcoming water-related stability challenges in molecular and hybrid semiconductors
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Prospective Article
A perspective on overcoming water-related stability challenges in molecular and hybrid semiconductors Mark Nikolka, Optoelectronics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK Address all correspondence to M. Nikolka at [email protected] (Received 2 October 2019; accepted 9 December 2019)
Abstract Molecular semiconductors synergize a variety of uniquely advantageous properties such as excellent absorption and emission properties, soft and deformable mechanical properties, and mixed ionic and electrical conduction. Over the past two decades, this outstanding set of features has put molecular semiconductors in the spotlight for a variety of optoelectronics and sensing applications. When it comes to mass-market adaptation, however, a challenge in these soft and van der Waals-bonded materials remains their electrical as well as environmental stability and degradation. This Prospective will summarize some of our current understanding of why organic semiconductors degrade with a strong emphasis put on the quintessential role played by water in this process. Furthermore, it will be revisited by which mechanisms water-related stability shortcomings might be addressed in the future and how these lessons can be translated to relevant hybrid systems such as perovskites and carbon nanotubes. Throughout this discussion, some parallels and key differences between organic and hybrid materials will be highlighted, and it will be elaborated on how this affects the associated device stability.
Introduction Organic semiconductors have been the subject of focused research efforts for more than two decades. This has led to impressive improvements in their materials and device performance, giving rise to new devices with unique capabilities. In some areas, the large-scale industrial integration and applications could even be realized.[1] For instance, organic lightemitting diodes (OLEDs) have successfully been commercialized and have revolutionized modern display and lighting applications. In this respect, it is most notably the excellent emission properties, tunability and record quantum yields that have allowed molecular emitters to disrupt a multi-billion dollar industry. In other areas, molecular semiconductors have not been fully commercialized but have demonstrated clear potential. State-of-the-art organic transistors (OFETs) have improved impressively and by now, are able to (reliably) reach mobilities of 2–5 cm2/Vs for polymers and 5–15 cm2/Vs for small molecular systems.[2,3] These levels of performance in principle suffices for high-end applications such as thin-film transistor (TFT), active-matrix OLCD, and OLED displays. The appeal of replacing existing TFT technology with molecular semiconductors is their mechanical robustness, flexibility, and even stretchability enabling fully conformable high-resolution displays. The market need for such products is highlighted by several display manufacturers that are currently set to launch products showcasing this flexible display technology.
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