Students: Sarah Gao
Project: Carboxyl Alkyl Polythiophene for Organic Electrochemical Transistors | View Poster (PDF)
Major: Chemical Engineering
Advisor: Elsa Reichmanis
Abstract
Transistors serve as fundamental circuit components that can amplify electric signals or act as a switch. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have emerged as a new technology with a wide range of potential applications. These devices consist of a gate, drain, and source electrode, similar to organic field effect transistors (OFETs). However, the gate electrode is submerged in an electrolyte that covers a thin layer film of a conjugated polymer, known as an organic mixed conductor, across the transistor channel. This OECT structure allows for ion movement from the electrolyte through the polymer film, leading to a significant change in channel conductance. For this study, the use of carboxyl alkyl polythiophene (P3C(Bu)T) as the thin film polymer for OECTs is being explored. This polymer exhibits both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components due to alkyl spacers in the conjugated backbone and the ionic functional end group, respectively. The processing of the polymer is achieved through an acid treatment of methanol and p-toluenesulfonic acid completed after the spray coating of the water-soluble polymer precursor. P3C(Bu)T has exhibited promising performance, specifically in the characterization of output and transfer curves. The transfer curve, depicting the relationship between gate voltage and drain current, exhibits a high efficiency of transconductance. Further analytical techniques have confirmed the findings of the relative stability of P3C(Bu)T, indicating that future works with this polymer could be a viable avenue for further OECT development.
About Sarah Gao
Sarah Gao is a sophomore from York, PA, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University. With an interest in circuitry and the practical applications of amperometric techniques, she has immersed herself in numerous learning opportunities. Over the past year, she has been engaged in research within Professor Elsa Reichmanis’s lab, studying conductive polymers, with a focus on the polymer carboxyl alkyl polythiophene, and its utilization in organic electrochemical transistors. This past summer, Sarah interned at Conductive Technologies Inc, a medical device manufacturing company, working on a lactate sensor feasibility study. During her time there she gained valuable hands-on experience with amperometric analysis. Outside of academics, Sarah enjoys playing tennis, figure skating, and spending time with friends and family.