A photo-responsive organic electrochemical transistor

Journal article

The design of novel organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) channel materials that can be controlled by a whole range of external stimuli is key towards the emergence of unprecedented technologies in bioelectronics. Like the established multiresponsive field-effect transistors, multiresponsive OECTs can in principle be realised via blending, by combining multiple components with each one imparting a specific function to the device. Here we report the first example of an optically switchable OECT which is capable of undergoing a reversible modulation of its ON current by up to 30% upon irradiation with UV and visible light. By investigating the electrical characteristics of the channel material, in conjunction with the electronic characterisation performed by a macroscopic Kelvin probe technique and photoemission yield spectroscopy in air, we gained distinct insight into the electrochemical doping process occurring within the blend upon light irradiation. Such a proof-of-concept work opens perspectives towards the implementation of complex neuromorphic operations and algorithms in OECTs

Authors: Turetta, N; Danowski, W; Cusin, L; Livio, PA; Hallani, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry C Materials for optical and electronic devices
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 24
• Pages: 7982-7988
• Publication date: 2023-06-22
• DOI: 10.1039/d2tc05444b
• EISSN: 2050-7534
• ISSN: 2050-7526
• Language: English
• Keywords: Voltage; Chemistry; Electrical engineering; Transistor; Irradiation; Polymer; Spiropyran; Electrode; Nanotechnology; Photochemistry; Derivative (finance); Ion; Organic chemistry; Optoelectronics; Electrochemistry; Ionic bonding; Physical chemistry; Composite material; Materials science