Air-mediated self-organization of polymer semiconductors for high-performance solution-processable organic transistors

Air-mediated molecular ordering in the self-organized polymer semiconductor of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is investigated using organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) fabricated by microcontact printing using poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamps having varying surface energy. OFET measurements reveal a large difference between the P3HT thin film microstructure at the interface with air and that at the interface with the substrate and efficient charge transport through the former. These results indicate that the formation of a highly ordered microstructure at the P3HT/air interface through air-mediated self-organization is little affected by substrate-mediated molecular ordering at the other interface of the P3HT film.