Physics of organic electronic devices

• Published in: Solid State Physics Vol. 55; pp. 1 - 117
• Main Authors: Campbell, I.H., Smith, D.L.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Science & Technology 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Condensed matter physics (liquids & solids); Educational: IT & computing, ICT; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS
• ISBN: 9780126077551; 012607755X
• ISSN: 0081-1947
• DOI: 10.1016/S0081-1947(01)80003-5

This chapter discusses the basic device physics that governs the operation of organic electronic devices. Organic electronic devices are a new class of solid state electrical devices that have been the subject of intense research in the last decade. The two most widely studied devices are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and field-effect transistors (FETs). These organic devices are attracting considerable interest because they have processing and performance advantages for low-cost and/or large-area applications. An organic light-emitting diode consists of a thin-film of a luminescent organic material contacted by metal electrodes on the top and bottom of the film. One electrode serves as an electron injecting contact and the other as a hole injecting contact. Organic electronic devices use undoped, insulating organic materials as the light-emitting and charge-transporting layers. The charge carriers in the devices are injected from the contacts. Electronic devices based on doped organic materials have not been developed in a manner analogous to doped inorganic semiconductor devices.