Threshold voltage change due to organic-inorganic interface in pentacene thin-film transistors

We have constructed pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) using 270 nm thick Al2O3+x gate dielectric deposited on indium tin oxide glass. Two different deposition techniques have been employed for the solid pentacene channel of our OTFTs: traditional thermal evaporation (TE) and energetic cluster evaporation (ECE). The TE-deposited pentacene channel appeared superior to the ECE-deposited pentacene in regard to crystallinity and hole mobility. However, the ECE-prepared OTFT showed an earlier turn on with smaller threshold voltage than the TE-prepared OTFT. This threshold voltage shift appeared more prominent with proper chemical treatment on the surface of our Al2O3+x gate oxide. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.