High-performance thin film transistor from solution-processed P3HT polymer semiconductor nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticulate suspensions of semiconducting polymer poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) have been prepared in water through a mini-emulsion process using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as the surfactant. Using these suspensions, we have fabricated organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) in a top gate configuration. These devices operate at a low voltage and show output characteristics similar to those achieved when the P3HT film is spun from chloroform. To characterize the properties of the film made from the nanoparticle suspension, differential thermal analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence spectra analysis, ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) spectrophotometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.