Methacrylate Copolymers with Liquid Crystalline Side Chains for Organic Gate Dielectric Applications

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Andreas Berndt - , Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Doris Pospiech - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Dieter Jehnichen - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Liane Haeussler - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Brigitte Voit - , Chair of Organic Chemistry of Polymers, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Mahmoud Al-Hussein - , University of Jordan (Author)
  • Matthias Ploetner - , Chair of Microsystems, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Amit Kumar - , Chair of Microsystems, Institute of Semiconductors and Microsystems, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Wolf-Joachim Fischer - , Chair of Microsystems, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Polymers for all-organic field-effect transistors are under development to cope with the increasing demand for novel materials for organic electronics. Besides the semiconductor, the dielectric layer determines the efficiency of the final device. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a frequently used dielectric. In this work, the chemical structure of this material was stepwise altered by incorporation of cross-linkable and/or self-organizing comonomers to improve the chemical stability and the dielectric properties. Different types of cross-linking methods were used to prevent dissolution, swelling or intermixing of the dielectric e.g. during formation processes of top electrodes or semiconducting layers. Self-organizing comonomers were expected to influence the dielectric/semiconductor interface, and moreover, to enhance the chemical resistance of the dielectric. Random copolymers were obtained by free radical and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. With 6-[4-(4'-cyanophenyl)phenoxy]alkyl side chains having hexyl or octyl spacer, thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) behavior and nanophase separation into smectic layers was observed, while copolymerization with methyl methacrylate induced molecular disorder. In addition to chemical, thermal and structural properties; electrical characteristics like breakdown field strength (E-BD) and relative permittivity (k) were determined. The dielectric films were studied in metal insulator metal setups. E-BD appeared to be strongly dependent on the type of electrode used and especially the ink formulation. Cross-linking of PMMA yielded an increase in E-BD up to 4.0 MV/cm with Ag and 5.7 MV/cm with PEDOT:PSS electrodes because of the increased solvent resistance. The LC side chains reduce the ability for cross-linking resulting in decreased breakdown field strengths.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12339-12347
Number of pages9
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume7
Issue number23
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jun 2015
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 25496492
Scopus 84935032747
ORCID /0000-0002-4531-691X/work/148607953

Keywords

Keywords

  • Breakdown field strength, Dielectric layer, Liquid crystalline side chain polymers, Methacrylate copolymers, Relative permittivity