On-state performance enhancement of copolymer-based organic field effect transistors enabled by an organic metal salt dopant

H Hengdian Chang (College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,) J Jun Zhang J Jintao Bian (College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 ; No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,) Y Yuan Yang H Haonan Lin (Shenzhen Grubbs Institute and Department of Chemistry Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen China) H Haowen Qian (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT) 3 , Nanjing 210023,) J Jiafei Yao (College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,) K Kemeng Yang (College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,) J Jing Chen M Man Li W Wen Li M Mingdong Yi (State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT) 3 , Nanjing 210023,) S Song Bai Y Yufeng Guo

Abstract

Organic field effect transistors (OFETs) based on copolymers are promising for flexible and stretchable electronics, yet their large-scale application is often limited by relatively poor performance. This work demonstrates a universal and effective doping strategy employing the organic metal salt lithium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate ethyl etherate (Li-TPFPB) to significantly enhance the on-state performance of copolymer OFETs. Employing a simple solution mixing method with an optimized doping ratio (3 wt. %), multiple key device parameters are improved simultaneously without compromising the on/off ratio. This improvement is proven to be universal across different copolymer semiconductors and metal electrodes combinations. Systematic investigations reveal that the performance improvement primarily originates from a substantial reduction in trap density within the copolymer semiconductor at optimal doping ratios, which facilitates more efficient charge transport. However, excessive doping (>3 wt. %) leads to increased structural disorder and trap density, causing device degradation. This study not only identifies Li-TPFPB as an effective dopant for OFETs but also provides a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of doping ratio dependent performance, paving a simple route toward high-performance, solution-processed OFETs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 12
Published March 23, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

H

Hengdian Chang

College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,

J

Jun Zhang

J

Jintao Bian

College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 ; No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,

Y

Yuan Yang

H

Haonan Lin

Shenzhen Grubbs Institute and Department of Chemistry Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen China

H

Haowen Qian

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT) 3 , Nanjing 210023,

J

Jiafei Yao

College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,

K

Kemeng Yang

College of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for RF Integration and Micro-packaging Technologies, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 1 , No. 9 Wenyuan Rd., Nanjing,

J

Jing Chen

M

Man Li

W

Wen Li

M

Mingdong Yi

State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NJUPT) 3 , Nanjing 210023,

S

Song Bai

Y

Yufeng Guo