Aligned Conjugated Polymer Nanowires for Enhanced Performance in Organic Transistors and Neuromorphic Devices

Abstract

Conjugated semiconducting polymers have emerged as attractive materials for flexible and solution-processable electronics. However, their relatively low charge transport performance remains a key limitation for practical applications. To overcome this issue, we introduce a novel patterning strategy employing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold to fabricate highly aligned PBTTT-C14 nanowires for advanced organic transistor applications. The formation of nanowires is facilitated by evaporation-induced solute accumulation at the mold edges, resulting in localized polymer deposition and crystallization. This approach enables the creation of well-defined nanowire structures with minimal residual polymer. Comprehensive characterization using optical microscopy (OM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms significant molecular alignment within the fabricated films. The distinct nanowire geometry markedly enhances electrolyte accessibility and interaction, substantially boosting device performance. Consequently, organic electrochemical transistors utilizing these nanowires exhibit notably high transconductance and superior retention capabilities. Furthermore, synaptic devices based on the nanowire structure demonstrate markedly improved functional characteristics. Our findings highlight the potential of directionally aligned nanowire structures for next-generation multifunctional organic electronic devices, particularly those targeting ionic and neuromorphic applications.