Self-Assembled Monolayers as Patterning Tool for Organic Electronic Devices.
The patterning of functional materials represents a crucial step for the implementation of organic semiconducting materials into functional devices. Classical patterning techniques such as photolithography or shadow masking exhibit certain limitations in terms of choice of materials, processing techniques and feasibility for large area fabrication. The use of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a patterning tool offers a wide variety of opportunities, from the region-selective deposition of active components to guiding the crystallization direction. Here, we discuss general techniques and mechanisms for SAM-based patterning and show that all necessary components for organic electronic devices, i.e., conducting materials, dielectrics, organic semiconductors, and further functional layers can be patterned with the use of self-assembled monolayers. The advantages and limitations, and potential further applications of patterning approaches based on self-assembled monolayers are critically discussed.
Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Materials, EPFL-STI-IMX-LMOM, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Schmaltz
Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Materials, EPFL-STI-IMX-LMOM, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Giuseppe
G
Sforazzini
Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Materials, EPFL-STI-IMX-LMOM, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Reichert
Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Materials, EPFL-STI-IMX-LMOM, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Holger
H
Frauenrath
organic electronics; organic field-effect transistors; patterning; self-assembled monolayers