Improved electrical ideality and photoresponse in near-infrared phototransistors realized by bulk heterojunction channels

The factors that affect the electrical ideality and photoresponse in near-infrared (NIR) organic phototransistors (OPTs) are still nebulous. Here, simultaneous increase in electrical ideality and NIR response in the OPTs is realized by applying a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) channel. The acceptor in the channel helps to trap the undesirable injected electrons, avoiding the accumulation of the electrons at the active channel/dielectric interface, and thereby improving the hole transporting. Use of a BHJ channel also helps reducing the contact resistance in the OPTs. The electrical stability is then improved with mitigated dependence of charge mobility on gate voltage in the saturation region. The BHJ channel also offers an improved photoresponse through enhanced exciton dissociation, leading to more than one order of magnitude increase in responsivity than that in a control OPT. The results are encouraging, which pave the way for the development of high-performing NIR OPTs. [Display omitted] •The use of BHJ channel in NIR OPTs improves the electrical ideality and photoresponse•The acceptor traps injected electrons to maintain the efficient hole transport•The contact resistance in OPTs with BHJ channel is reduced•The better exciton dissociation in BHJ channel offers improved photoresponse Optoelectronics; Electronic engineering; Electronic materials; Optical Materials