Mechanical Deformation Effects on Flexible Thin Film Transistors: A Comparison Between 6,13-Bis(Triisopropylsilylethynyl)Pentacene and N,N′-Bis-(2-Ethylhexyl)-1,7-Dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(Dicarboximide) Derivatives

In this work, the investigation of the surface strain-induced electrical changes in two commonly employed solution-processable organic semiconductors, i.e., 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-Pentacene) and N,N′-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)−1,7-dicyanoperylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (N1400), is reported. A detailed electromechanical characterization of two sets of flexible organic field-effect transistors is performed, clearly demonstrating that both systems are affected by mechanical deformation in terms of electrical performance. However, the N1400 system shows a much more stable and reproducible response, even after continuous mechanical stress. XRD and AFM analysis demonstrate that such difference is mainly related to the changes induced on the two thin film morphology by the applied deformations.