Controlled 2D growth of organic semiconductor crystals by suppressing "coffee-ring" effect

Wei Wang; Bei Lu; Wei Deng; Xiujuan Zhang; Zhengjun Lu; Di Wu; Jiansheng Jie; Xiaohong Zhang

doi:10.1007/s12274-020-2882-x

Nano Research 2020, 13(9): 2478-2484 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-2882-x

Research Article | Issue | Published: 02 July 2020

Controlled 2D growth of organic semiconductor crystals by suppressing "coffee-ring" effect

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Wei Wang^{¹^,^§}, Bei Lu^{¹^,^§}, Wei Deng^¹, Xiujuan Zhang^¹(

), Zhengjun Lu^¹, Di Wu^², Jiansheng Jie^¹(

), Xiaohong Zhang^¹

1Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China

2Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China

^§ Wei Wang and Bei Lu contributed equally to this work.

Keywords:

organic field-effect transistors, two-dimensional (2D) organic semiconductor single crystals, two-dimensional (2D) growth mode, coffee-ring effect

Topics:

Organic field effect transistors Organic semiconductor materials

Cite this article:

Wang W, Lu B, Deng W, et al. Controlled 2D growth of organic semiconductor crystals by suppressing "coffee-ring" effect. Nano Research, 2020, 13(9): 2478-2484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-2882-x

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Abstract

Owing to enhanced charge transport efficiency arising from the ultrathin nature, two-dimensional (2D) organic semiconductor single crystals (OSSCs) are emerging as a fascinating platform for high-performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). However, "coffee-ring" effect induced by an evaporation-induced convective flow near the contact line hinders the large-area growth of 2D OSSCs through a solution process. Here, we develop a new strategy of suppressing the "coffee-ring" effect by using an organic semiconductor: polymer blend solution. With the high-viscosity polymer in the organic solution, the evaporation-induced flow is remarkably weakened, ensuring the uniform molecule spreading for the 2D growth of the OSSCs. As an example, wafer-scale growth of crystalline film consisting of few-layered 2,7-didecylbenzothienobenzothiophene (C₁₀-BTBT) crystals was successfully accomplished via blade coating. OFETs based on the crystalline film exhibited a maximum hole mobility up to 12.6 cm²·V^-1·s^-1, along with an average hole mobility as high as 8.2 cm²·V^-1·s^-1. Our work provides a promising strategy for the large-area growth of 2D OSSCs toward high-performance organic electronics.

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About this article

Controlled 2D growth of organic semiconductor crystals by suppressing "coffee-ring" effect

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Wei Wang^{¹^,^§}, Bei Lu^{¹^,^§}, Wei Deng^¹, Xiujuan Zhang^¹(

), Zhengjun Lu^¹, Di Wu^², Jiansheng Jie^¹(

), Xiaohong Zhang^¹

1Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China

2Key Laboratory of Materials Physics of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China

^§ Wei Wang and Bei Lu contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Keywords: organic field-effect transistors, two-dimensional (2D) organic semiconductor single crystals, two-dimensional (2D) growth mode, coffee-ring effect

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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 04 March 2020

Revised: 04 March 2020

Accepted: 17 May 2020

Published: 02 July 2020

Issue date: September 2020

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51973147, 61904117, 51821002 and 51672180), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China (No. BK20180845), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), the 111 Project, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices. The authors thank the Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (Nano-CIC), Soochow University and Beamline BL14B1 (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility) for providing beam time.