Gold Nanoparticle-Crystalline rubrene hybrid nanocomposite via plasma processing and realization of Plasmon-enhanced organic thin film transistor with high responsivity

[Display omitted] •A crystalline rubrene based nanocomposite material is synthesized in one-step.•High performing and operationally stable plasmon transistor is fabricated.•Very high responsivity of 25 A/W at the peak wavelength of LSPR.•High field-effect mobility of 0.215 cm2/V.s of the active material. High performing and operationally stable thin film transistor device is successfully fabricated with an organic frame-work implemented by synthesis of rubrene crystals with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). A novel synthesis route for the fabrication of the active material in the form of crystalline rubrene composite (CRC) is adopted via plasma processing approach. This report highlights two important features: a) report of a one-step process to synthesize crystalline rubrene gold nanocomposite in a thin film architecture and b) demonstration of a plasmon transistor for plasmon resonance energy detection. The fabricated device is a low-light responsive device showing the typical p-type characteristics. Excellent p-channel characteristics is shown by the device with a maximum field effect mobility of 0.215 cm2/V.s. At the peak wavelength of plasmonic absorption a very high responsivity of 25 A/W is achieved. Hot carriers are collected by the transistor from the nanostructures of Au NPs that contributes to the increase in drain current by modulating the channel conductivity. Due to the versatile nature of the plasmonic nanostructures in terms of wavelength tunability for the CRC material, this architecture has the potential to offer a wide range of spectrum that can be used in various applications.