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PROGRESS ARTICLEA bright future for organic fi eld-effect
transistorsField-effect transistors are emerging as useful device structures for effi cient light generation from a variety of materials, including inorganic semiconductors, carbon nanotubes and organic thin fi lms. In particular, organic light-emitting fi eld-effect transistors are a new class of electro-optical devices that could provide a novel architecture to address open questions concerning charge-carrier recombination and light emission in organic materials. These devices have potential applications in optical communication systems, advanced display technology, solid-state lighting and electrically pumped organic lasers. Here, recent advances and future prospects of light-emitting fi eld-effect transistors are explored, with particular emphasis on organic semiconductors and the role played by the material properties, device features and the active layer structure in determining the device performances.MICHELE MUCCINIConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio dei
Materiali Nanostrutturati (CNR-ISMN) via P. Gobetti 101, 40129
Bologna, Italy.e-mail: [email protected] great advancements achieved in recent years by
organic materials science prompted the development of
devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs),
solar cells, electro-chemical cells, organic memories
and organic fi eld-eff ect transistors (OFETs)14. Interest
in organic electronics stems from the possibility to
produce low-cost, large-area, lightweight and fl exible
devices able to integrate functionalities currently
accomplished using more expensive conventional
semiconductors and components5. Th e development
of integrated organic electronic devices is a gateway
for a variety of applications, and is of great relevance
for the general purpose of achieving highly integrated
optoelectronic systems. For example, the combination
of OLEDs and OFETs is needed for the development
of all-organic active matrix display technology.
Approaches to integrate OFET and OLED devices
have been reported6,7, however, the construction
steps required aff ect the simplicity of the system
architecture and production costs. Th erefore, the
possibility to combine diff erent functionalities in a
single device would be of great relevance for the further
development of organic electronics in integrated
components and circuitry. Recently, organic lightemitting transistors (OLETs) have been demonstrated,
which combine in a single device the electrical
switching functionality of a fi eld-eff ect transistor and
the capability of light generation8,9. OLETs represent a
novel class of organic devices, and could pave the way
towards nanoscale light sources and highly integrated
organic optoelectronics. In addition, it is worth