Polymer electronics: from discrete transistors to integrated circuits and active matrix displays

Transistors based on organic materials are lightweight, flexible, and potentially easy to manufacture. Since the temperature used in the production process is low, the substrate can be cheap and flexible plastic instead of glass. Still plastic transistors offer less performance than most of their inorganic counterparts. In order to fully exploit the potential of organic devices, the process technology must then be optimised for low-cost and/or capability to cover large areas. In this paper we will discuss the state of the art of polymer electronics, reporting on discrete devices, the making of active-matrix displays and the realization of logic functions in integrated circuits.