Highly crystalline thin films of organic semiconductors processed from solution for electronic devices are difficult to achieve due to a slow and preferential three-dimensional growth of the crystals. Here we describe the development of a processing technique to induce a preferential two-dimensional crystalline growth of organic semiconductors by means of minimizing one dimension and confining the solution in two dimensions into a thin layer. The versatility of the process is demonstrated by processing small molecules (TIPS-pentacene and C60) and a polymer (P3HT), all from solvents with a relatively low boiling point, to obtain crystalline thin films. The thin films show an improved in-plane packing of the molecules compared to films processed under similar conditions by spin coating, which is beneficial for the use in organic field-effect transistors.Graphical abstract
Highlights► Confined solution deposition technique. ► Single crystals and crystalline thin films of organic semiconductors. ► Improved electrical characteristics in transistors. ► Versatility demonstrated with crystalline films of polymers and small molecules. ► A fast method for growing crystals without the requirement of an annealing process.
