Issue 43, 2020

Advances and opportunities in development of deformable organic electrochemical transistors

Abstract

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have been revived as potentially versatile platforms for bioelectronic applications due to their high transconductance, direct ionic-electronic coupling, and unique form factors. This perceived applicability to bioelectronics can be attributed to the incorporation of organic mixed conductors that facilitate both ionic and electronic transport, enabling material-inherent translation from biological signals to abiotic readouts. In the past decade, multiple synthetic breakthroughs have yielded channel materials that exhibit significant hole/electron transport while displaying electroactivity in aqueous media. Yet, implicit in the rationale of OECTs as bioelectronic devices is they can be fabricated to be mechanically compatible with biological systems, even though unified guidelines for deformable OECTs remain unclear. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advances for imparting deformability. Specifically, materials selection, design, and chemistry for integral parts of the transistor – substrate, electrolyte, interconnects, and (polymeric) channel materials—will be discussed in the context of benchmarks set by select bioelectronics applications. We conclude by identifying key areas for future research towards mechanically compliant OECTs.

Graphical abstract: Advances and opportunities in development of deformable organic electrochemical transistors

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
01 jul 2020
Accepted
22 sep 2020
First published
22 sep 2020

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020,8, 15067-15078

Author version available

Advances and opportunities in development of deformable organic electrochemical transistors

B. V. Khau, A. D. Scholz and E. Reichmanis, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8, 15067 DOI: 10.1039/D0TC03118F

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