Work

From Tape to Transistor: A Low-Cost and Cleanroom-Free Route to Flexible Vertical Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Vertical organic electrochemical transistors (vOECTs) combine high current density, large transconductance, and fast switching speeds, clearly outperforming traditional planar OECTs. These features make them highly attractive for high-sensitivity and high-frequency applications, including biosensing and neuromorphic computing. However, current fabrication methods remain complex and costly, typically requiring cleanroom facilities and advanced microfabrication techniques. Here, we introduce a low-cost, cleanroom-free approach to fabricating flexible vOECTs by thermally evaporating gold onto commercial polyimide tape. This straightforward process eliminates the need for lithography or shadow masks, simplifying device production. The resulting transistors show high transconductance, excellent ON/OFF ratios, and stable operation. Furthermore, their integration into a unipolar inverter highlights their suitability for organic electronic circuits. Overall, this work presents an accessible and scalable fabrication route for flexible vOECTs, opening opportunities for next-generation bioelectronic and computing platforms.

Source: ACS Applied Electronic Materials

DOI: 10.1021/acsaelm.6c00382

Authors: Marcos Luginieski, Gustavo Gonçalves Dalkiranis, Bianca de Andrade Feitosa, Bruno Bassi Millan Torres, Gregório Couto Faria

Institutions: Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos

Language: English

Topic: Conducting polymers and applications

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500