Designing and Thin Film Engineering of Organic Plastic Ionic Ferroelectrics towards Multi-sensor Electronic Skin

Project Information

FERROPLAST

Grant agreement ID: 101106582

DOI

10.3030/101106582

Project closed

EC signature date 11 April 2023

Start date 2 May 2023

End date 1 August 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 213 643,36

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FERROPLAST (Designing and Thin Film Engineering of Organic Plastic Ionic Ferroelectrics towards Multi-sensor Electronic Skin)

Reporting period: 2023-05-02 to 2025-08-01

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Organic compounds have the potential to build materials like how most inorganic materials are constructed – packing of ions. The FERROPLAST project took on the challenge to construct ferroelectric crystals using organic molecules forming both cations and anions with varying degrees of spherical shape. Such cocrystals represents a vast range of yet unexplored materials with an equally large range of possible applications, and to a significantly lower environmental impact than their inorganic counterparts. The objectives were to gain knowledge in how the structural properties of the organic components together control the material properties, in particular how we can control polarizability through choice of structure. The materials were to be constructed as powders, crystals and coatings to enable characterization of their properties, supported by theoretical calculations of the systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Throughout the project a range of different types of cocrystals have been made by precipitation reactions, mechanochemical reactions, and also as thin films by spin coating. Neither of the materials have shown convincing ferroelectric properties, however, a series of semiconducting materials based on donor-acceptor systems have been formed. Their conduction mechanisms have been described with basis in optical characterizations and theoretical modelling based on DFT calculations. Among these, the one based on 4,4′-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (CBP) and π-acceptor 1,4-tetrafluoro-p-benzoquinone (fluoranil) show strong face-to-face π···π stacking interactions and charge transfer from the carbazole moiety to fluoranil. It shows a direct bandgap of 1.24 eV and strong absorption in the deep red and near-infrared regions, which are favourable for photovoltaic applications.
The cocrystal based on the π-donor 1,5-dihydroxynapthalene (DHN) and the π-acceptor 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) show a narrow bandgap of 0.94 eV with potential application for air stable and high mobility n-channel organic field effect transistors. Such organic semiconductors with electron dominant transport, narrow bandgap, and appropriate LUMO energy (−3.8 eV) suitable for air stability are very rare. This donor–acceptor cocrystal offers potential material for n-channel organic field effect transistors.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The FERROPLAST project has identified and described a selection of cocrystals with potential applications for organic based photovoltaics and for formation of organic transistors. The project has not extended all the way to proof of principle of relevant devices, however, its fundamental properties have been justified. To ensure further uptake of the scientific results a continued study at a higher TRL level together with relevant industrial partners should be conducted.

Front cover in journal for publication "Elucidating the role of charge transfer on semiconductor..."