Polymer space-charge-limited transistor

Abstract

A metal grid is sandwiched between poly(3-hexylthiophene) to form a solid-state version of vacuum tube triode, where the vertical space-charge-limited current is modulated by the grid potential. The Al grid contains random submicron openings formed by a nonlithographic method. The multilayer polymer structure is made by spin coating. The operating voltage of the polymer space-charge-limited transistor is 3 V, and the current gain of 506 is obtained. The characteristics of the transistor can be tuned by the diameters and the density of the openings on the grid. Similar to the vacuum tube triode, the current follows a power law voltage dependence. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.