Organic Semiconductor Stabilization via Electron Donor Additives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic semiconductors, such as pentacene derivatives and polythiophenes, are prone to degradation due to interaction with atmospheric oxygen, especially when exposed to light, which complicates the manufacturing of electronic devices and increases costs by requiring rigorous precautions to avoid oxygen and light exposure.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the use of a liquid composition combining an organic semiconductor with a strong electron donor or acceptor compound as a stabilizer, which reduces the semiconductor's oxygen sensitivity, allowing for stable fabrication under ambient conditions through liquid deposition and drying to form a semiconductor layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigorous precautions are taken to exclude environmental oxygen and light during processing, then semiconductor stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesemiconductor stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizer compound acts as an intermediary substance that preferentially reacts with oxygen to form a protective complex, shielding the organic semiconductor from oxidative degradation. The stabilizer serves as a sacrificial agent that protects the semiconductor without requiring complex processing environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter by introducing stabilizer compounds with specific molecular structures and electron donor/acceptor properties. These parameter changes enable the semiconductor to maintain stability under ambient conditions without requiring controlled atmosphere processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional approaches are used to improve semiconductor stability, then oxygen resistance is improved, but transistor mobility and processability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen resistanceVSAvoidtransistor mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer is incorporated at specific local concentrations within the semiconductor layer, creating zones of enhanced stability without uniformly affecting the entire material structure. This localized approach preserves bulk semiconductor properties like mobility while providing protective functionality where needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system combining the organic semiconductor with stabilizer compounds having complementary properties. The composite structure leverages the semiconductor's charge transport capabilities while the stabilizer provides oxidative protection, achieving both high mobility and oxygen resistance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The stabilization of organic semiconductors significantly increases their half-life when exposed to ambient conditions, minimizing performance degradation and enabling cost-effective, reproducible manufacturing of electronic devices without compromising other desirable characteristics like transistor mobility and processability.

Implementation Method 1

forming a liquid composition using starting ingredients comprising an organic semiconductor and a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer comprises a strong electron donor compound or a strong electron acceptor compound, wherein the organic semiconductor exhibits a high oxygen sensitivity in a comparison solution without the stabilizer but a lower oxygen sensitivity in the liquid composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectron transfer: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

liquid depositing the liquid composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid deposition: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 3

drying the liquid composition to form a layer of the electronic device, wherein the layer comprises the organic semiconductor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7651885B2Electronic device fabrication process

Publication Date: 2010.01.26 GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A process for fabricating an electronic device including: (a) forming a liquid composition using starting ingredients comprising an organic semiconductor and a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer comprises a strong electron donor compound or a strong electron acceptor compound, wherein the organic semiconductor exhibits a high oxygen sensitivity in a comparison solution without the stabilizer but a lower oxygen sensitivity in the liquid composition; (b) liquid depositing the liquid composition; and (c) drying the liquid composition to form a layer of the electronic device, wherein the layer comprises the organic semiconductor.