Flexible Field-Effect Transistor-Type Sensors Based on Conjugated Molecules

Abstract

With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) era, flexible sensors are regarded as one of the most important technologies for the development of human-friendly wearable devices. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on conjugated polymers or small molecules are promising sensor platforms because they have various advantages, including high sensitivity, mechanical flexibility, and low-cost fabrication processes. OFET-based sensors enable continuous monitoring of external stimuli or target analytes with superior detection capabilities. This review describes the working principles and sensing mechanisms of various OFET-based sensors, including chemical, biological, photo, pressure, and temperature sensors, and introduces the recent progress in this field. In addition, the technical challenges and future outlook of OFET-based sensors for next-generation flexible electronics are briefly discussed. With an attempt to prepare for the imminent fourth industrial revolution, which will bring new ways of embedding technology within societies and even within the human body, the development of flexible and stretchable high-performance sensors for wearable devices is attracting tremendous interest. Organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based sensors can contribute to these goals because of their high sensitivity, mechanical flexibility, biocompatibility, property tunability, and low-cost fabrication. This review provides an overview of the sensing mechanisms and recent progress of OFET-based sensors, including chemical, biological, photo, pressure, and temperature sensors. Further development of flexible and stretchable OFET-based sensors holds great potential for the commercialization of next-generation sensor devices in a variety of fields such as smart health care and environmental monitoring applications for biomedical, manufacturing, and military industries. An attempt to prepare for the upcoming fourth industrial revolution will be based on new ways of embedding technology within societies and even within the human body. Therefore, the development of flexible and stretchable sensors for wearable devices is attracting tremendous interest. Organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based sensors can contribute to these goals because of their high sensitivity, mechanical flexibility, low-cost fabrication, and property tenability. This review provides an overview of the sensing mechanisms and recent progress of various OFET-based sensors. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.