Hybrid Polymer/Metal Oxide Thin Films for High Performance, Flexible Transistors

Abstract

Metal oxides (MOs) have garnered significant attention in a variety of research fields, particularly in flexible electronics such as wearable devices, due to their superior electronic properties. Meanwhile, polymers exhibit excellent mechanical properties such as flexibility and durability, besides enabling economic solution-based fabrication. Therefore, MO/polymer nanocomposites are excellent electronic materials for use in flexible electronics owing to the confluence of the merits of their components. In this article, we review recent developments in the synthesis and fabrication techniques for MO/polymer nanocomposite-based flexible transistors. In particular, representative MO/polymer nanocomposites for flexible and transparent channel layers and gate dielectrics are introduced and their electronic properties—such as mobilities and dielectric constant—are presented. Finally, we highlight the advances in interface engineering and its influence on device electronics.

Self-Assembled Monolayers: Versatile Uses in Electronic Devices from Gate Dielectrics, Dopants, and Biosensing Linkers

“…However, the organic semiconductors in OTFTs are vulnerable to charge traps [16][17][18] and leakage current, which frequently occur in oxide dielectrics (i.e., silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) [19][20][21], aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) [22,23], and hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) [24]). Owing to the strong susceptibility of Micromachines 2021, 12, 565 2 of 17 organic semiconductors to charge traps, OTFTs suffer from instability, which causes currentvoltage sweep hysteresis [25][26][27], shifts in the threshold voltage (V TH ) [28,29], and bias stress effects [30][31][32][33]. To address these issues, the treatment of the hydroxylated surfaces of dielectrics is crucial.…”

Research Progress of High Dielectric Constant Zirconia-Based Materials for Gate Dielectric Application

“…In recent years, the development of organic-inorganic hybrid thin film materials for dielectric gate applications has aroused great interest of researchers [64]. In theory, organic materials for dielectric gate applications offer a smooth surface and good compatibility, but their low dielectric constant lead to low capacitance [9,65].…”

High-k Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Technological Applications

“…The proposed soft vibrotactile actuator based on plasticized PVC/silicon dioxide nanoparticle composites showed broad amplitude variation in a wide frequency range and created a variety of haptic sensations to the users. To improve the robustness, processability and breakdown strength of the polymer nanocomposites, it is also important to consider the polymerization techniques, where the grafting of polymer brushes on inorganic nanoparticles can certainly enhance the compatibility of polymerinorganic hybrid nanoparticles with dielectric polymer matrix [71][72][73]. Ellingford et al defined that even by the intrinsic tuning of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), with polar organic groups such as methyl thioglycolate, results in self-healing dielectric elastomers as new actuators materials.…”