Gas sensors from organic thin-film transistors

Abstract

Research in Organic Electronics (OE) has become mandatory from the prediction that mankind has reached the limit in dimension scaling and device integration. Furthermore, if compared to the already-established inorganic microelectronics based on silicon, OE can offer countless semiconductors and low-cost deposition techniques over large area flexible substrates. Organic Thin-Film Transistors (OTFTs) are the base blocks of electronic circuits and, usually, present a field-effect device structure. Due to its easy processability, these devices offer innumerous applications, such as flexible displays, radio-frequency identification tags, textile electronics and sensors (e.g. chemical, biological and pressure). Besides, there is a demand for small, portable and cheap gadgets, mainly for in-situ medical diagnosis, environmental and food monitoring, drug delivery, chemical and biological weapons detection, and for the confection of electronic noses and tongues. In this context, the objective of this project lies in the development of sensors from organic thin-film transistors for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas phase. The innovation consists in the application in OTFTs of semiconductors synthesized and provided from our scientific collaborators. The study must be composed of an investigation of environmental factors linked to device degradation, as well as each material sensitivity and specificity to VOCs.