Deciphering the Crystallinity‐Dependent Sensitivity of Charge Injection in n‐Channel Organic Transistors: Reliable Characterization and Optimized Performance
The performance and reliability of n-type organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are strongly influenced by the interplay between semiconductor crystallinity and the metal/semiconductor interface. Here, we systematically investigate a series of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based n-type polymers with identical backbones but varying side-chain architectures, resulting in varied long-range order. By comparing devices fabricated with conventional Au and low-work-function Al/Ti electrodes, we elucidate the synergistic effects of intrinsic polymer crystallinity and interfacial energetics on charge injection, transport, and operational stability. Temperature-dependent electrical measurements and trap analyses demonstrate that contact resistance, rather than intrinsic bulk transport, dominates the observed mobility differences between polymers of moderate and high crystallinity. Optimized Al/Ti contacts mitigate these interfacial limitations, enabling a transition from contact-limited to channel-limited transport and significantly improving environmental and operational stability. These findings establish a quantitative framework linking crystalline order, injection efficiency, and device reliability. This framework provides critical design guidelines for the evaluation and optimization of high-performance n-type organic semiconductors.
Authors
- Ruipeng Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8176-3138)
- Yong Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6800-234X)
- Jianeng Ma
- Huabin Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8465-7151)
- Zhuping Fei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2160-9136)
- Xiang Wan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6085-0603)
- Dongyoon Khim
- Zhihao Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9724-5033)
- W. Boukhili (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5899-6803)
- Liyang Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1203-2996)
- Seung‐Hoon Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0301-522X)
- Chan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7932-0115)
- Li Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1583-2670)
- Chee Leong Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1350-3577)
- Changwoo Yu
- Guangan Yang
Institutions
- Tianjin University (CN)
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (US)
- Kongju National University (KR)
- Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CN)
- Guangdong Hiway Integrated Circuit Technology (China) (CN)
- Southwest Jiaotong University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Science
- Published
- 2026-08-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77050
- Primary Topic
- Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities