Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing

Stretchable organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), with inherent flexibility, versatile sensing mechanisms, and signal amplification properties, provide a unique device-level solution for the real-time, in situ detection of trace gaseous pollutants. However, serious challenges remain regarding th...

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Main Authors: Xiao Jiang, Jiaqi Zeng, Linxuan Zhang, Zhen Zhang, Rongjiao Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/922
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author Xiao Jiang
Jiaqi Zeng
Linxuan Zhang
Zhen Zhang
Rongjiao Zhu
author_facet Xiao Jiang
Jiaqi Zeng
Linxuan Zhang
Zhen Zhang
Rongjiao Zhu
author_sort Xiao Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Stretchable organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), with inherent flexibility, versatile sensing mechanisms, and signal amplification properties, provide a unique device-level solution for the real-time, in situ detection of trace gaseous pollutants. However, serious challenges remain regarding the synergistic optimization of OFET gas sensor production preparation, mechano-electrical properties, and gas-sensing performance. Although the introduction of microstructures can theoretically provide OFETs with enhanced sensing performance, the high-precision process required for microstructure fabrication limits scale-up. Herein, a straightforward hybrid solvent strategy is proposed for regulating the intrinsic microstructure of the organic semiconductor layer, with the aim of constructing an ultrasensitive PDVT-10/SEBS fully stretchable OFET NO<sub>2</sub> sensor. The binary solvent system induces the formation of nanoneedle-like structures in the PDVT-10/SEBS organic semiconductor, which achieves a maximum mobility of 2.71 cm<sup>2</sup> V<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, a switching current ratio generally exceeding 10<sup>6</sup>, and a decrease in mobility of only 30% at 100% strain. Specifically, the device exhibits a response of up to 77.9 × 10<sup>6</sup> % within 3 min and a sensitivity of up to 1.4 × 10<sup>6</sup> %/ppm, and it demonstrates effective interference immunity, with a response of less than 100% to nine interferences. This work paves the way for next-generation wearable smart sensors.
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spelling doaj-art-cc740f43b44b4a60bbd102ffd5e2cb5d2025-08-20T03:16:21ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-06-01151292210.3390/nano15120922Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> SensingXiao Jiang0Jiaqi Zeng1Linxuan Zhang2Zhen Zhang3Rongjiao Zhu4Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaKey Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaStretchable organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), with inherent flexibility, versatile sensing mechanisms, and signal amplification properties, provide a unique device-level solution for the real-time, in situ detection of trace gaseous pollutants. However, serious challenges remain regarding the synergistic optimization of OFET gas sensor production preparation, mechano-electrical properties, and gas-sensing performance. Although the introduction of microstructures can theoretically provide OFETs with enhanced sensing performance, the high-precision process required for microstructure fabrication limits scale-up. Herein, a straightforward hybrid solvent strategy is proposed for regulating the intrinsic microstructure of the organic semiconductor layer, with the aim of constructing an ultrasensitive PDVT-10/SEBS fully stretchable OFET NO<sub>2</sub> sensor. The binary solvent system induces the formation of nanoneedle-like structures in the PDVT-10/SEBS organic semiconductor, which achieves a maximum mobility of 2.71 cm<sup>2</sup> V<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, a switching current ratio generally exceeding 10<sup>6</sup>, and a decrease in mobility of only 30% at 100% strain. Specifically, the device exhibits a response of up to 77.9 × 10<sup>6</sup> % within 3 min and a sensitivity of up to 1.4 × 10<sup>6</sup> %/ppm, and it demonstrates effective interference immunity, with a response of less than 100% to nine interferences. This work paves the way for next-generation wearable smart sensors.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/922organic field-effect transistorsorganic semiconductorsstretchablenitrogen dioxidenano-restricted domain effects
spellingShingle Xiao Jiang
Jiaqi Zeng
Linxuan Zhang
Zhen Zhang
Rongjiao Zhu
Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
Nanomaterials
organic field-effect transistors
organic semiconductors
stretchable
nitrogen dioxide
nano-restricted domain effects
title Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
title_full Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
title_fullStr Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
title_full_unstemmed Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
title_short Binary Solvent Engineering Modulates the Microstructure of Stretchable Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Highly Sensitive NO<sub>2</sub> Sensing
title_sort binary solvent engineering modulates the microstructure of stretchable organic field effect transistors for highly sensitive no sub 2 sub sensing
topic organic field-effect transistors
organic semiconductors
stretchable
nitrogen dioxide
nano-restricted domain effects
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/922
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