All-printed complementary OECT-based circuits

Important results from the project

The goal of Stage 1 was to achieve adequate switching performances of all-printed standalone accumulation mode OECTs and OECT-based complementary inverters. This has been achieved for p-type OECTs, as shown in a publication. However, n-type OECTs have been more difficult to achieve, even though transistor functionality has been observed in a few devices, and a complementary inverter based on printed p- and n-type OECTs has also been demonstrated. But further development is needed before printing more advanced circuits involving cascade-coupled inverters and logic gates.

Expected long term effects

The plan was to apply for Stage 2 of this call. But when that opportunity disappeared, RISE and LiU are at least able to continue working on OECT-based circuits for another 8 months in the H2020 project MITICS. LiU is one of the world leaders in OECT development and RISE is still the only one reporting all-printed OECTs and OECT-based circuits, and the aim is to continue along this track, both academically and commercially, for example by using the analysis Framsyn. RISE has also participated in the EIC Venture Building Programme to investigate the possibilities to commercialize OECTs.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out with RISE as coordinator and LiU as partner. RISE and LiU are both located in Norrköping and partly share laboratories, which simplified the project management and meetings have been booked on a need basis. Vinnova introduced new concepts in this call. Work was done on the theme Framsyn, where the project analyzed the current situation, a vision 10 years ahead and which pieces that are missing to reach the vision. The project also carried out an exercise on Discovery Driven Planning. Both exercises were rewarding and have been reported separately to Vinnova.