Molecularly Smooth Self-Assembled Monolayer for High-Mobility Organic Field-Effect Transistors.
Despite the need for molecularly smooth self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silicon dioxide surfaces (the most common dielectric surface), current techniques are limited to nonideal silane grafting. Here, we show unique bioinspired zwitterionic molecules forming a molecularly smooth and uniformly thin SAM in "water" in <1 min on various dielectric surfaces, which enables a dip-coating process that is essential for organic electronics to become reality. This monomolecular layer leads to high mobility of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on various organic semiconductors and source/drain electrodes. A combination of experimental and computational techniques confirms strong adsorption (Wad> 20 mJ m-2), uniform thickness (∼0.5 or ∼1 nm) and orientation (all catechol head groups facing the oxide surface) of the "monomolecular" layers. This robust (strong adsorption), rapid, and green SAM represents a promising advancement toward the next generation of nanofabrication compared to the current nonuniform and inconsistent polysiloxane-based SAM involving toxic chemicals, long processing time (>10 h), or heat (>80 °C).
Saurabh
S
Das
Byoung Hoon
BH
Lee
Roscoe T H
RT
Linstadt
Fundamental Chemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco , Recife, Pernambuco 50740-670, Brazil.
Keila
K
Cunha
Youli
Y
Li
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
Yair
Y
Kaufman
Zachary A
ZA
Levine
Bruce H
BH
Lipshutz
Fundamental Chemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco , Recife, Pernambuco 50740-670, Brazil.|Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-465, Brazil.
Roberto D
RD
Lins
Joan-Emma
JE
Shea
Alan J
AJ
Heeger
B Kollbe
BK
Ahn
bioinspired self-assembled monolayer; nanofabrication; organic field-effect transistor; polysiloxane; zwitterionic molecules