We report the synthesis and thermoelectric characterization of composite nanocrystals composed of a tellurium core functionalized with the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Solution processed nanocrystal films electronically out perform both PEDOT:PSS and unfunctionalized Te nanorods while retaining a polymeric thermal conductivity, resulting in a room temperature ZT ∼ 0.1. This combination of electronic and thermal transport indicates the potential for tailored transport in nanoscale organic/inorganic heterostructures.

Sodium beta-alumina (SBA) has high two-dimensional conductivity, owing to mobile sodium ions in lattice planes, between which are insulating AlO(x) layers. SBA can provide high capacitance perpendicular to the planes, while causing negligible leakage current owing to the lack of electron carriers and limited mobility of sodium ions through the aluminium oxide layers. Here, we describe sol-gel-beta-alumina films as transistor gate dielectrics with solution-deposited zinc-oxide-based semiconductors and indium tin oxide (ITO) gate electrodes. The transistors operate in air with a few volts input. The highest electron mobility, 28.0 cm2 V(-1) s(-1), was from zinc tin oxide (ZTO), with an on/off ratio of 2 x 10(4). ZTO over a lower-temperature, amorphous dielectric, had a mobility of 10 cm2 V(-1) s(-1). We also used silicon wafer and flexible polyimide-aluminium foil substrates for solution-processed n-type oxide and organic transistors. Using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulphonate) conducting polymer electrodes, we prepared an all-solution-processed, low-voltage transparent oxide transistor on an ITO glass substrate.

Organic semiconductor films are susceptible to noncovalent interactions, trapping and doping, photoexcitation, and dimensional deformation. While these effects can be detrimental to the performance of conventional circuits, they can be harnessed, especially in field-effect architectures, to detect chemical and physical stimuli. This Review summarizes recent advances in the use of organic electronic materials for the detection of environmental chemicals, pressure, and light. The material features that are responsible for the transduction of the input signals to electronic information are discussed in detail.

The electrical behavior of a conducting-polymer/inorganic-nanowire composite is explained with a model in which carrier transport occurs predominantly through a highly conductive volume of polymer that exists at the polymer-nanowire interface. This result highlights the importance of controlling nanoscale interfaces for thermoelectric materials, and provides a general route for improving carrier transport in organic/inorganic composites.

New N,N′-substituted 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimides (NTCDIs) were synthesized in one step reactions, resulting in excellent electron mobilities in air as measured in organic field effect transistors (OFETs). Two perfluoroalkyl-benzyl N,N′ substituents were used, differing in the length of the perfluoroalkyl moieties on the benzyl portion of the molecule. Single crystals of the short chain compound 2 were successfully grown by horizontal vapor deposition, and crystal structures were obtained and analyzed. Devices from both compounds were fabricated on untreated and silane treated Si/SiO2 substrates. The longer chain compound 1 gives the largest field effect mobility, reaching 0.57 cm2/(V s) in air. This is competitive with the best air stable n-channel materials to date. In contrast to previously studied high mobility materials, 1 achieved mobilities near 0.4 cm2/(V s) without the use of dielectric substrate treatments. Additionally, 1 displays exemplary ordering regardless of surface treatment, as determined from X-ray diffraction, while 2 displays significant improvement in mobility and film structure when deposited on surface treated substrates.