Electronic Materials

Printed electronics employ established printing methods to create low-cost, mechanically flexible devices including batteries, supercapacitors, sensors, antennas and RFID tags on plastic, paper and textile substrates. This review focuses on the specific contribution of screen printing to that landscape, examining how ink viscosity, mesh selection and squeegee dynamics govern film uniformity, pattern resolution and ultimately device performance. Recent progress in advanced ink systems is surveyed, highlighting carbon allotropes (graphene, carbon nano-onions, carbon nanotubes, graphite), silver and copper nanostructures, MXene and functional oxides that collectively enhance mechanical robustness, electrical conductivity and radio-frequency behavior. Parallel improvements in substrate engineering such as polyimide, PET, TPU, cellulose and elastomers demonstrate the technique’s capacity to accommodate complex geometries for wearable, medical and industrial applications while supporting environmentally responsible material choices such as water-borne binders and bio-based solvents. By mapping two decades of developments across energy-storage layers and functional electronics, the article identifies the key process elements, recurring challenges and emerging sustainable practices that will guide future optimization of screen-printing materials and protocols for high-performance, customizable and eco-friendly flexible devices. Full article

Optimizing charge transport in organic semiconductors is crucial for advancing next-generation optoelectronic devices. The performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) is significantly influenced by the alignment of films in the channel direction and the quality of the dielectric surface, which should be uniform, smooth, and free of charge-trapping defects. Our study reports the enhancement of OFET performance using large-area, uniform, and oriented thin films of regioregular poly[3-hexylthiophene] (RR-P3HT), prepared via the Floating Film Transfer Method (FTM) on octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) passivated SiO₂ surfaces. SiO₂ surfaces inherently possess dangling bonds that act as charge traps, but these can be effectively passivated through optimized surface treatments. OTS treatment has improved the optical anisotropy of thin films and the surface wettability of SiO₂. Notably, using octadecene as a solvent during OTS passivation, as opposed to toluene, resulted in a significant enhancement of charge carrier transport. Specifically, passivation with OTS-F (10 mM OTS in octadecene at 100 °C for 48 h) led to a >150 times increase in mobility and a reduction in threshold voltage compared to OTS-A (5 mM OTS in toluene for 12 h at room temperature). Under optimal conditions, these FTM-processed RR-P3HT films achieved the best device performance, with a saturated mobility (μ_sat) of 0.18 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹. Full article

In this study, we investigate the magnetoconductivity behavior in a 2D p-Si/SiGe/Si system. To achieve this, we develop a theoretical model that incorporates three key contributions, the weak localization effect, electron–electron interaction effects, and the Zeeman effect, which is considered only in the presence of a magnetic field. We then compare our theoretical predictions with experimental magnetoconductivity data, analyzing both the consistencies and discrepancies between the model and the measurements. Through this comparison, we aim to provide a deeper physical understanding of the factors influencing magnetoconductivity in this system. Full article

Al₂O₃ ceramics are widely used in vacuum electronic devices. However, surface flashover in a vacuum during the application of high voltage significantly influences their reliability and restricts the development of vacuum electronic devices. The secondary electron emission yield (SEY) and surface resistivity of ceramics are the main factors affecting the vacuum withstand voltage of ceramic materials. In this study, the bulk density, microstructure, and surface properties—including SEY and surface resistivity—of Al₂O₃ ceramics were tested. The relationship between these properties and the vacuum withstand voltage of the ceramics was investigated. The influence of the addition ratio of Cr₂O₃ to MnO₂ and the sintering temperature was investigated. The results show Cr/Mn-doped Al₂O₃ ceramics, with appropriate amounts of Cr₂O₃ and MnO₂ and sintered at suitable temperatures, exhibit low SEY, high withstand voltage, and excellent stability in vacuum. Full article

This research is on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of SnO₂ and ZnO thin films, which are increasingly used in many electronic devices, including gas sensors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells. For the various applications, it is essential to accurately determine the band gap energy, as it controls the optical and electrical behavior of the material. However, there is no single method for its determination; rather, different approximations depend on the crystalline quality and the doping level because these modify the energy band structure of the semiconductor. With the aim of analyzing the various approaches, SnO₂ and ZnO films were prepared by sputtering on unheated glass substrates and subsequently annealed in N₂ at various temperatures between 250 °C and 450 °C. These samples showed different crystallite sizes, absorption coefficients, and free carrier concentrations depending on the material and the annealing temperature. Analysis of the results shows that the expression developed for amorphous materials underestimates the band gap value, and the so-called unified method tends to overestimate it, while the equations for perfect or heavily doped crystals give band gap energies more consistent with the doping level, regardless of the crystalline quality of the films. Full article

Amorphous oxide semiconductor transistors with a high current density output are highly desirable for large-area electronics. In this study, wrapping amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) transistors are proposed to enhance the current density output relative to a-IGZO source-gated transistors (SGTs). Device performances are analyzed using technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations. The TCAD simulation results reveal that, with an optimized device structure, the current density of the wrapping a-IGZO transistor can reach 7.34 μA/μm, representing an approximate two-fold enhancement compared to that of the a-IGZO SGT. Furthermore, the optimized wrapping a-IGZO transistor exhibits clear flat saturation and pinch-off behavior. The proposed wrapping a-IGZO transistors show significant potential for applications in large-area electronics. Full article

We investigated the tribological, thermal, kinetic, and surface microtextural characteristics of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of 300 mm p-type <100> prime silicon wafers (and their native oxide) at various pressures, sliding velocities, and starting platen temperatures. Results showed the dominant tribological mechanism for both native oxide and silicon polishing to be boundary lubrication. Using frictional data, we pinpointed the exact time that corresponded to the total removal of the native oxide and the onset of silicon polishing. This allowed us to separately characterize removal rates of each layer. For native oxide, while the rate depended on temperature, the presence of a temperature-independent shear force threshold and the low observed rates suggested that its removal by the slurry was dominantly mechanical. In contrast, for silicon polish, the absence of a distinctive shear force threshold and the fact that, for the same set of consumables, rates were more than 200 times larger for silicon than for native oxide suggested a dominantly chemical process with an average apparent activation energy of 0.34 eV. It was further confirmed that rate selectivity between native oxide and PE-TEOS based SiO₂ control wafers was around 1 to 7, which underscored the importance of being able to directly measure native oxide removal rates. In all cases, we achieved excellent post-polish surfaces with S_a and S_q values of below 1 nm. Due to thermal softening of the thermoplastic pad at elevated temperatures, which we confirmed via dynamic mechanical analysis, overall process vibrations were significantly higher when platen heating was employed. Full article

Based on the minimum conduction band edge caused by the minimum channel potential resulting from the quasi-3D scaling theory and the 3D density of state (DOS) accompanied by the Fermi–Dirac distribution function on the source and drain sides, a unified semiconductor-device-physics-based ballistic model is developed for the threshold voltage of modern multiple-gate (MG) transistors, including FinFET, Ω-gate MOSFET, and nanosheet (NS) MOSFET. It is shown that the thin silicon, thin gate oxide, and high work function will alleviate ballistic effects and resist threshold voltage degradation. In addition, as the device dimension is further reduced to give rise to the 2D/1D DOS, the lowest conduction band edge is increased to resist threshold voltage degradation. The nanosheet MOSFET exhibits the largest threshold voltage among the three transistors due to the smallest minimum conduction band edge caused by the quasi-3D minimum channel potential. When the n-type MOSFET (N-FET) is compared to the P-type MOSFET (P-FET), the P-FET shows more threshold voltage because the hole has a more effective mass than the electron. Full article

Polyimide (PI) has received great attention for high-temperature capacitive energy storage materials due to its remarkable thermal stability, relatively high breakdown strength, strong mechanical properties, and ease of synthesis and modification. In this review, several key parameters for evaluating capacitive energy storage performance are introduced. Subsequently, the properties of the commercially available PIs are presented. Then, the recent development of designing and tailoring all-organic PI-based polymers is discussed in detail, focusing on molecular composition and spatial configuration to enhance dielectric constant, breakdown strength, discharged energy density, and charge-discharge efficiency. Finally, we outline the current challenges and future development directions of PI-based high-temperature energy storage dielectric materials. Full article

A helium ion microscope (HIM) with a focused He⁺-ion beam of variable flux and energy can be used as a tool for local nanoscale surface modification. In this work, we demonstrate a simple but versatile use of the HIM focused He ion beam to fabricate conducting metallic nano- and microstructures on arbitrary substrates of varied types and shapes by directly patterning pre-deposited initially discontinuous and highly insulating (>10 TΩ/sq.) ultrathin metal films. Gold or silver films, measuring 3 nm in thickness, thermally evaporated on solid substrates have a discontinuous nanocluster morphology. Such highly resistive films can be made locally conductive using moderate doses (2 × 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ cm⁻²) of low-energy (30 KeV) ion bombardment. We show that an HIM can be used to directly “draw” Au and Ag conductive lines and other patterns with a variable sheet resistance as low as 10 kΩ/sq. without the use of additional precursors. This relatively straightforward, high-definition technique of direct writing with an ion beam, free from complex in vacuo catalytic or precursor chemistries, opens up new opportunities for directly fabricating elements of conformal metallic nanocircuits (interconnects, resistors, and contacts) on arbitrary organic or inorganic substrates, including those with highly curved surfaces. Full article

An efficient cooling system is necessary for the reliability and safety of modern microchips for a longer life. As microchips become smaller and more powerful, the heat flux generated by these chips per unit area also rises sharply. Traditional cooling techniques are inadequate to meet the recent cooling requirements of microchips. To meet the current cooling demand of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices and microchips, microchannel heat sink (MCHS) technology is the latest invention, one that can dissipate a significant amount of heat because of its high surface area to volume ratio. This study provides a concise summary of the design, material selection, and performance parameters of the MCHSs that have been developed over the last few decades. The limitations and challenges associated with the different techniques employed by researchers over time to enhance the thermal efficiency of microchannel heat sinks are discussed. The effects on the thermal enhancement factor, Nusselt number, and pressure drop at different Reynold numbers in passive techniques (flow obstruction) i.e., ribs, grooves, dimples, and cavities change in the curvature of MCHSs, are discussed. This study also discusses the increase in heat transfer using nanofluids and how a change in coolant type also significantly affects the thermal performance of MCHSs by obstructing flow. This study provides trends and useful guidelines for researchers to design more effective MCHSs to keep up with the cooling demands of power electronics. Full article

In this study, we investigated the density of states extraction method for atomic-deposited ZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) by analyzing gate-dependent field-effect mobility. The atomic layer deposition (ALD) method offers ultra-thin and smooth ZnO films, but these films suffer from interface and semiconductor defects, which lead to disordered localized electronic structures. Hence, to investigate the unstable localized structure of ZnO TFTs, we tried to derive the electronic state relationship by assuming field-effect mobility can be expressed as a gate-dependent Arrhenius relation, and the activation energy in the relation is the required energy for hopping. Following this derived relationship, the DOS of the atomic-deposited ZnO transistor was extracted and found to be consistent with those using temperature-dependent measurements. Moreover, to ensure the proposed method is reliable, we applied methods for the extraction of DOSs of doped ZnO transistors, which show enhanced mobilities with shifted threshold voltages, and the results show that the extraction method is reliable. Thus, we can state that the mobility-based DOS extraction method offers practical benefits for estimating the density of states of disordered transistors using a single transfer characteristic of these devices. Full article

Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) hold great recycling value, but improper recycling can lead to environmental issues. This study combines pyrolysis and microwave technologies, leveraging the unique phenomenon where metal materials tend to “spark” in a microwave field, to develop a microwave pyrolysis process for WPCBs that incorporates metal fillers. The research analyzes the effects of microwave power, metal filler addition, and pyrolysis time on the efficiency of microwave pyrolysis. It explores the mechanisms of microwave pyrolysis and the pathways of pyrolysis product formation, and the kinetics of the pyrolysis reaction of WPCBs. The results indicate that microwave-assisted pyrolysis greatly improves efficiency. Within the experimental range, the optimal conditions are found to be a microwave power of 1600–1800 W, a metal filler addition of 10%, and a pyrolysis time of 10 min. Under these conditions, the yield of pyrolysis liquid was 12.8%, with approximately 5–12 different components, while the yield of pyrolysis gas was 12.7–13.4%, with about 9–11 different components. Compared to conventional pyrolysis products, the liquid products from microwave pyrolysis are simpler and more advantageous for resource utilization. Theoretical calculations show that the average activation energy for the microwave pyrolysis process is 81.05 kJ/mol, with an average reaction order of 0.93, which is greatly better than the 147.75 kJ/mol of the conventional pyrolysis process. Full article

Power modules can occasionally be exposed to brief power peaks, causing overheating and premature failure of the power semiconductor devices. In order to overcome this issue without oversizing the module or its cooling system, this study aims to design a new class of power modules with integrated Phase Change Material (PCM) in a container serving as a top device interconnection. Simulations and experiments are performed with two organic PCMs, and the interest in adding copper foam is discussed. Under various test conditions, the results show that the simulations agree well with the experiments. Hence, virtual prototyping can be very useful for sizing containers based on a specific mission profile. For a constant selected PCM volume (around 1 cm³/device) and with a convection heat transfer coefficient value of 800 W.m⁻².K⁻¹, the solution allows achieving a junction temperature reduction of about 35 °C (erythritol and 90% porosity copper foam) compared to a wire-bonded conventional technique. Repetitive power cycles can be achieved with both materials, but the selection of the PCM should be conducted cautiously based on the mission profile. The two selected organic PCMs show degradation of their latent heat of fusion and mass loss during high-temperature isothermal aging in air above 130 °C. By assuming as endpoint criterion the reduction of energy storage by 50% compared to the initial state, the lifetime of erythritol and RT100 is evaluated to be about 100 and 340 h, respectively, during aging at 150 °C. Full article

Polymer composites are engineered materials that combine polymers with diverse fillers to enhance their physicochemical properties. The electrical conductivity of polymer composites is a vital characteristic that significantly broadens their use, particularly in electronic applications. The addition of ionic liquids into polymer composites represents a new method to enhance their functional properties, particularly in terms of electrical conductivity. In this brief review, several polymer matrices, conductive fillers, and ionic liquids utilized in polymer composites are categorized. Additionally, the effect of ionic liquids on the electrical conductivity of polymer composites is concisely explained. This review gives brief information that increases the understanding of electrical conductivity in polymer composites containing ionic liquids. In summary, most studies show that adding ionic liquids enhances the electrical conductivity of polymer composites regardless of the polymer matrix or conductive filler type. This enhancement is due to ionic liquids improving filler dispersion and promoting the creation of effective three-dimensional conductive networks within the matrix, thus boosting electron transport and mobility throughout the structure. This review provides new insights into the behavior of ionic liquids in composite systems, highlighting their role in improving properties for advanced applications. It encourages innovation in next-generation conductive materials and assists future research and development of more efficient materials for electronics. Full article

We have investigated the influence of the relative proportions of glass formers in a series of lithium alumino-borosilicate glasses with respect to electrical conductivity (σ) and glass transition temperature (T_g) as functions of glass structure, as determined using Raman spectroscopy. The ternary lithium alumino-borate glass exhibits the highest σ and lowest T_g among all the compositions of the glass series, 30Li₂O•3Al₂O₃• (67−x) B₂O₃•xSiO₂. However, as B₂O₃ is replaced by SiO₂, a shallow minimum in σ, as well as a shallow maximum in T_g, are observed near x = 27, where the Raman spectra indicate that isolated diborate/tetraborate/orthoborate groups are being progressively replaced by danburite/reedmergnerite-like borosilicate network units. Overall, as the glasses become silica-rich, σ is minimized, while T_g is maximized. In general, these findings show correlations among T_g (sensitive to network polymerization), σ (proportional to ionic mobility), and the different borate and silicate glass structural units as determined using Raman spectroscopy. Full article

In this work, a gate insulator poly (4-vinylphenol) (PVP) of an organic field effect transistor (OFET) was deposited using an inkjet printing technique, realized via a high printing resolution. Various parameters, including the molecular weight of PVP, printing direction, printing voltage, and drop frequency, were investigated to optimize OFET performance. Consequently, PVP with a smaller molecular weight of 11 k and a printing direction parallel to the channel, a printing voltage of 18 V, and a drop frequency of 10 kHz showed the best OFET performance. With a direct ink writing-printed organic semiconductor, this work paves the way for fully inkjet-printed OFETs. Full article

This work presents a copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS)-based solar cell structure (AI/ITO/C₆₀/CZTS/SnS/Pt) with C₆₀ as a buffer layer, developed using the SCAPS-1D simulator by optimizing each parameter to calculate the output. Optimizing the parameters, the acceptor concentration and thickness were altered from 6.0 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³ to 6.0 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ and 1500 nm to 3000 nm, respectively. Although, in this simulator, we can tune the value for the acceptor concentration to 6.0 × 10²², higher doping might present an issue regarding adjustment in the physical experiment. Thus, tunable parameters need to be chosen according to the reliability of the experimental work. The defect density varied from 1.0 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻³ to 1.0 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ and the auger hole/electron capture coefficient was determined to be 1.0 × 10⁻²⁶ cm⁶ s⁻¹ for the maintenance of the minorities in theoretical to quasi-proper experimental measurements. Although the temperature was intended to be kept near room temperature, this parameter was varied from 290 K to 475 K to investigate the effects of the temperature on this cell. The optimization of the proposed structure resulted in a final acceptor concentration of 6.0 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³ and a thickness of 3000 nm at a defect density of 1.0 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³, which will help to satisfy the desired experimental performance. Satisfactory outcomes (V_OC = 1.24 V, J_SC = 27.03 mA/cm², FF = 89.96%, η = 30.18%) were found compared to the previous analysis. Full article

In this paper, a new method for evaluating hot-electron degradation in p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN power HEMTs is proposed. The method exploits a commercial parameter analyzer to study V_TH and R_ON drifts induced by on-state stress at V_DS = 50 V. The results show that V_TH drift and part of the R_ON degradation induced by the on-state stress are recoverable and likely due to the ionization of C-related acceptors in the buffer. This was confirmed by a preliminary characterization of C-related buffer traps. Conversely, the remaining part of R_ON degradation (not recovered in 1000 s) was strongly affected by the surface treatment. The current level set during on-state stress affected the amount of non-recoverable degradation, confirming the involvement of hot electrons. Thanks to the monitoring of the parameters’ recovery, the proposed method provides important insights into the physical mechanisms governing the parameters’ degradation. This extends the capabilities of state-of-the art systems, without the need for custom setup development. Full article