Parylene thin film preparation - Preparation and properties of organic thin film transistors

During the past few years, the interest in organic field effect transistors (OTFTs) has been constantly increasing. This is mainly due to the promise of cheap and efficient device production, the possibility of realizing OTFTs on different substrates and the vision of combining the electronic properties of organic semiconductors with the synthetic versatility of organic chemistry. The latter allows efficient tailoring of materials properties to suite the needs of various applications, including chemical sensing. Within this projekt, we aim at both improving existing and developing new concepts for OTFTs and their applications. Eventually, the activities aim at developing the basis for further joint activities (like an application for joint proposal within the seventh framework of the EU). The efforts will include a thorough fundamental investigation of the optimization of OFET technology and interface properties using contact-angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing incidence IR investigations, X-ray reflectivity measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning tunelling microscopy investigations. The experimental studies will be augmented by quantum-mechanical modelling. Particular emphasis will be put on various production methods for the thin (mono)-layer between the gate dielectric and the organic semiconductor (OSC)and on the dependence of the growth modes of the subsequently deposited OSC layers on the substrate pre-treatment/ nature of the thin interfacial layer. Eventually, OTFTs will be realized using the previously grown OSC layers with the final goal of developing extensive relationships between the device properties and the film deposition techniques. More advanced applications like interface based OTFT-type chemical sensors will also be explored