Accessing MHz Operation at 2 V with Field-Effect Transistors Based on Printed Polymers on Plastic

Abstract

Organic printed electronics are suitable for the development of wearable, lightweight, distributed applications in combination with cost-effective production processes. Nonetheless, some necessary features for several envisioned disruptive mass-produced products are still lacking: among these radio-frequency (RF) communication capability, which requires high operational speed combined with low supply voltage in electronic devices processed on cheap plastic foils. Here, it is demonstrated that high-frequency, low-voltage, polymer field-effect transistors can be fabricated on plastic with the sole use of a combination of scalable printing and digital laser-based techniques. These devices reach an operational frequency in excess of 1 MHz at the challengingly low bias voltage of 2 V, and exceed 14 MHz operation at 7 V. In addition, when integrated into a rectifying circuit, they can provide a DC voltage at an input frequency of 13.56 MHz, opening the way for the implementation of RF devices and tags with cost-effective production processes.