Bioelectronics (IBI-3)

Seminar Speaker: Prof. Gitti Frey from Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

will present her Guest Talk: "A Novel Blend Strategy for Multifunctional Organic Electrochemical Transistors"

Date: 5 May 2025

Time: 15:30

Venue: Seminar Room 309b, Building 2.4w

Abstract:
Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are versatile devices used in bioelectronics, energy storage, mechanical actuators, and sensors, relying on organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) to modulate bulk conductivity through ion injection and extraction from an electrolyte. Recently, we introduced a novel design strategy for OECTs by blending p-type and n-type OMIECs, enabling enhanced performance and multifunctionality. By tailoring the blend microstructure through composition and thermal treatments, we control phase separation, crystallinity, and domain morphology to optimize ionic and electronic conductivity, as well as ionic-electronic coupling. This approach led to the development of fully balanced ambipolar OECTs, capable of modulating both anions and cations within a single device. Additionally, we extended this blend strategy to enable dual-operation functionality, where a p-type semiconducting polymer and an n-type OMIEC combine to create a device that operates as both an Electrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistor (EGOFET) and OECT. In the p-type EGOFET regime, polymer-rich domains promote fast surface charge accumulation, while OMIEC-rich domains facilitate high amplification in the OECT n-type mode. This dual-operation mechanism allows for seamless transitions between the two modes. Our findings present a new framework for designing multifunctional, tunable organic transistors with enhanced ionic-electronic coupling, offering a promising platform for next-generation bioelectronics and advanced sensing applications.

Bio:
Gitti L. Frey is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where she has held various key academic positions, including Dean and Vice Dean for Undergraduate Studies. Her research focuses on organic electronics, with a particular emphasis on materials aspects and structure-property relationships in organic devices, such as organic solar cells (OSCs), organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). As the leader of the Organic and Hybrid Materials and Devices Group, Gitti utilizes a broad range of characterization techniques to explore processes such as charge injection, transport, collection, and interfacial phenomena within these devices. Over the years, she has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing significantly to the development of organic photovoltaic devices and organic transistors. Gitti has received several prestigious teaching awards and research fellowships, and her research has led to numerous high-impact publications, underscoring her ongoing influence in advancing the field of organic electronics.

For online participation contact h.-j.krause@fz-juelich.de