Effect of carrier gas temperature on pentacene thin film formation by organic vapor-jet printing techniques

Abstract

Organic vapor jet printing (OVJP) is a powerful mask-free continuous method of fabricating organic thin film semiconductor devices. In the technique, vaporized organic compounds are carried by an inert carrier gas and jet-sprayed onto a substrate through a nozzle. During the printing process, the carrier gas temperature is controlled by an outer temperature control system. The morphology and electrical properties of organic thin films fabricated in this way can vary depending on the carrier gas temperature. This paper examines the effects of carrier gas temperature on OVJP systems. Pentacene thin films were fabricated, and their properties were compared with predicted behavior based on numerical simulations. Carrier gas temperatures exceeding 413 K yielded bulk-mode pentacene thin films with high electrical mobilities. The temperature of the carrier gas was a significant factor in determining behavior and properties of the film. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.