Printing method paves way for high power organic electronics
1 min read
A printing process developed by a team from the US Department of Energy has been found to significantly improve the performance of organic semiconductors.
The researchers, in collaboration with Stanford University, have so far demonstrated thin films that can conduct electricity 10 times more efficiently than those created using conventional methods.
The printing method, dubbed FLUENCE (fluid enhanced crystal engineering), is fast and works with a variety of organic materials. "Even better, most of the concepts behind FLUENCE can scale up to meet industry requirements," said researcher Ying Diao.
Printed electronic devices are typically formed from semiconducting crystals grown from special inks that contain organic chemicals. If the ink flow does not distribute evenly, the semiconducting crystals become riddled with defects.
To overcome this, Diao and her team designed a printing blade with tiny pillars embedded in it that mixes the ink so it forms a uniform film. They also designed a series of chemical patterns on the substrate to make sure the crystals grew in a regular pattern.
The researchers say FLUENCE could provide an 'unprecedented' degree of control over the electronic properties of printed films, "which could lead to a revolutionary advance in organic electronics," Diao concluded. "We've been making excellent progress, but I think we're only just scratching the surface."
