Investigation of Conjugated Polymer Matrices for Enhanced OFET-Based Biosensing

The advancement of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) has opened promising avenues for the development of next-generation biosensors, particularly those leveraging organic semiconducting materials. In this study, triisopropylsilylethynyl-pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) is employed as the core semiconducting polymer matrix due to its superior charge transport properties and processability. TIPS-pentacene offers significant advantages through solution-processable fabrication techniques, enabling the formation of uniform thin films on silicon substrates—an essential criterion for large-area, low-cost device manufacturing. To enhance the performance of the OFET-based biosensors, a polymer blending approach is utilized. This method allows for a synergistic alignment of molecular stacking and energy level tuning between multiple conjugated polymers, resulting in improved charge carrier mobility and stability. In parallel, this project proposes the design of novel pentacene derivatives with narrow energy band gaps using machine learning algorithms and computational chemistry tools. These computational methods will guide the rational synthesis of advanced organic semiconductors tailored for biosensing applications. The characterization of the polymeric materials will be conducted using analytical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy to evaluate their optical and electronic properties. By integrating biologically active compounds into the OFET architecture, the resulting biosensor platform is expected to exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity toward target analytes. This development holds significant potential for supporting governmental efforts in healthcare diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and biosecurity, marking a step forward in the convergence of organic electronics and biosensing technologies.