Optically switchable organic field-effect transistors based on photoresponsive gold nanoparticles blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene).
Interface tailoring represents a route for integrating complex functions in systems and materials. Although it is ubiquitous in biological systems--e.g., in membranes--synthetic attempts have not yet reached the same level of sophistication. Here, we report on the fabrication of an organic field-effect transistor featuring dual-gate response. Alongside the electric control through the gate electrode, we incorporated photoresponsive nanostructures in the polymeric semiconductor via blending, thereby providing optical switching ability to the device. In particular, we mixed poly(3-hexylthiophene) with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated with a chemisorbed azobenzene-based self-assembled monolayer, acting as traps for the charges in the device. The light-induced isomerization between the trans and cis states of the azobenzene molecules coating the AuNP induces a variation of the tunneling barrier, which controls the efficiency of the charge trapping/detrapping process within the semiconducting film. Our approach offers unique solutions to digital commuting between optical and electric signals.
Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires and International Center for Frontier Research in Chemistry, Université de Strasbourg and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
Corinna
C
Raimondo
Núria
N
Crivillers
Federica
F
Reinders
Fabian
F
Sander
Marcel
M
Mayor
Paolo
P
Samorì
D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods; D013876:Thiophenes; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
D013876:Thiophenes; C507295:poly(3-hexylthiophene); D006046:Gold