Roll-to-Roll fabrication of large area functional organic materials

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Polymer physics, 2013-01, Vol.51 (1), p.16-34
• Main Authors: Søndergaard, Roar R., Hösel, Markus, Krebs, Frederik C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Application fields; Applied sciences; coating; Electronics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Optoelectronic devices; organic thin films; Photovoltaic conversion; Polymer industry, paints, wood; polymer solar cells; printing; processing; R2R; roll-to-roll; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; techniques; Technology of polymers; Transistors
• ISSN: 0887-6266; 1099-0488
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.23192

With the prospect of extremely fast manufacture of very low cost devices, organic electronics prepared by thin film processing techniques that are compatible with roll‐to‐roll (R2R) methods are presently receiving an increasing interest. Several technologies using organic thin films are at the point, where transfer from the laboratory to a more production‐oriented environment is within reach. In this review, we aim at giving an overview of some of the R2R‐compatible techniques that can be used in such a transfer, as well the current status of R2R application within some of the existing research fields such as organic photovoltaics, organic thin film transistors, light‐emitting diodes, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, and electrochromic devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012 There is a growing need to be able to process large areas of functional organic thin films with high precision using roll‐to‐roll (R2R) methods. An introduction is given to different R2R techniques that could be useful in the processing of organic electronics and furthermore an overview is provided of the current status of R2R application within several research fields including organic photovoltaics, organic thin film transistors, light‐emitting diodes, and electrochromic devices.