Accessing MHz Operation at 2 V with Field-Effect Transistors Based on Printed Polymers on Plastic

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates high-frequency, low-voltage polymer transistors on plastic, achieving over 1 MHz operation at 2 V, enabling cost-effective RF devices and tags for wearable electronics.

Contribution

It introduces scalable printing and laser techniques to fabricate polymer transistors on plastic with MHz operation at low voltages, advancing printable RF electronics.

Findings

Transistors operate above 1 MHz at 2 V

Devices reach over 14 MHz at 7 V

Successful integration into rectifying circuits at 13.56 MHz

Abstract

Organic printed electronics is proving its suitability for the development of wearable, lightweight, distributed applications in combination with cost-effective production processes. Nonetheless, some necessary features for several envisioned disruptive mass-produced products are still lacking: among these radio-frequency (RF) communication capability, which requires high operational speed combined with low supply voltage in electronic devices processed on cheap plastic foils. Here, we demonstrate that high-frequency, low-voltage, polymer field-effect transistors can be fabricated on plastic with the sole use of a combination of scalable printing and digital laser-based techniques. These devices reach an operational frequency in excess of 1 MHz at the challengingly low bias voltage of 2 V, and exceed 14 MHz operation at 7 V. In addition, when integrated into a rectifying circuit, they can provide a DC voltage at an input frequency of 13.56 MHz, opening the way for the implementation of RF devices and tags with cost-effective production processes.