Transistor properties of novel organic conducting polymers bearing tetrathiafulvalene units in the backbone

The organic field-effect transistor (OFET) properties of conducting polymers bearing a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) unit in the backbone whose termini are capped with functional groups were investigated. The OFET devices were fabricated by a solution process under various fabrication conditions. All the devices showed typical p-type semiconducting behavior as expected from the electron-donating properties of TTF derivatives. Cast films exhibited higher field-effect mobilities than spin-coated films. Surface treatment with organic silane molecules produced no noticeable effects. When using thioacetyl-capped polymer, treatment of the OFET device in an ammonia atmosphere resulted in a field-effect mobility one order of magnitude higher than that of the pristine film. By contrast, there was no such enhancement with ethyl acetate-capped polymer. Atomic force microscopy observations revealed that the ammonia treatment promoted the ordering of the polymer chain, which resulted in improved electronic conduction.