Collaborative Research: A Predictive Device Physics Framework for High-Performance Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Collaborative Research: A Predictive Device Physics Framework for High-Performance Organic Electrochemical Transistors Abstract The next generation of medical implants, wearable health monitors and other personalized healthcare technologies requires electronic devices that can interface with soft, living biological systems. Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) are well positioned to perform this task as they can translate biological signals, which rely on the flow of ions, into electrical currents. However, because these devices operate differently than traditional electronics, the mechanisms governing their operation is not fully understood and progress relies on costly, time-consuming trial-and-error approaches to design new materials and device architectures. This project, a collaboration between Wake Forest University and Princeton University, will develop a fundamental understanding of how OECTs operate and use that knowledge to create a predictive, simulation-guided design framework for high-performance OECTs. This work directly benefits the U.S. healthcare and technology sectors by enabling the rapid development of stable, high-performance bioelectronics for health monitoring and low-power hardware for energy-efficient “Green AI” initiatives. Furthermore, this program will train a globally competitive STEM workforce by engaging undergraduate and graduate students in cross-disciplinary research spanning polymer chemistry and device physics, integrating new bioelectronics modules into undergraduate university curricula, and leveraging strong industrial partnerships to prepare students for leadership roles in the domestic semiconductor and biotechnology industries Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) offer unparalleled ionic-electronic transduction and volumetric capacitance, positioning them as the ideal hardware for bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing. However, current development is bottlenecked by empirical materials-led discovery. Existing device models apply standard field-effect transistor theory, ignoring volumetric ion injection, dynamic film swelling, the influence of the trap density of states (t-DOS), and contact-limited charge injection. This collaborative program will establish a predictive device physics framework to overcome the fundamental trade-off between electronic mobility and volumetric capacitance in organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs). The research project is carried out through three integrated thrusts: decoupling transport pathways via the synthesis of phase-segregated rod-coil block copolymers and nanoporous sacrificial scaffolds; formulating a unified computer aided design “digital twin” model that incorporates contact resistance and in-operando t-DOS spectroscopy; and demonstrating utility through the fabrication of low-power complementary inverters and enzyme-free biosensors utilizing synthetic organic cages. By combining custom synthesis with device engineering in an iterative feedback loop, this project will deliver a library of bespoke OMIECs and establish a comprehensive, open-source roadmap for the rational, simulation-guided design of high-performance OECTs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.