Material and Process Considerations for Printing Organic Semiconductor Based Sensors

Soluble organic semiconductors used as active sensing, switching, and functional elements have found broad application in a number of sensors that can benefit from the use of organic materials including mechanical sensors, chemical sensors, and radiation monitors. In addition to delivering patterning functionality, the choice of printing approach can also have a significant effect on the performance and functionality of these organic semiconductor-based devices. Through strategic use of meniscus dragging, contact deposition and patterning, and dielectric processing these processes can be used to build a number of systems unachievable using inorganic materials. In this presentation we will discuss the use of printing and the strategic use of controlled deposition and drying during the patterning process for the fabrication of organic conductors and semiconductors and the application of these devices in a range of applications including strain sensors, radiation detectors, microphones, and hydrophones which both uniquely benefit from the use of conjugated organic materials and the control offered by printing approaches.