Contact

All Publications

  • A monolithic fabrication platform for intrinsically stretchable polymer transistors and complementary circuits. Device Yuan, Y., Zhao, C., Ronchini, M., Nishio, Y., Zhong, D., Wu, C., Kweon, H., Sun, Z., Mow, R. K., Shi, Y., Michalek, L., Wu, H., Liu, Q., Wang, W., Yao, Y., Yin, Z., Zhao, J., He, Z., Chen, K., Wu, R., Shi, J., Pei, J., Bao, Z. 2026; 4 (8)

    Abstract

    Stretchable organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) provide signal conditioning for bioelectronics while offering tunable mechanical and chemical properties, but their fabrication remains materialspecific and difficult to extend to complementary circuits, where sequentially patterning of multiplex semiconductors often degrades device performance. In this work, we introduce a monolithic photolithography process for intrinsically stretchable complementary OFETs and circuits, with high yield, high resolution, and material versatility. This platform combines a directly photopatternable, solvent-resistant crosslinked dielectric/semiconductor interface, crosslinked high-mobility polymer-semiconductor blends, and self-aligned encapsulation that also serves as an etch mask. It patterns multiple p- and n-type polymer semiconductors, achieving a record density of 55,000 OFETs per cm2, 2 μm resolution, and 5 V operation voltages. We fabricated stretchable complementary inverters and 3.3 kHz ring oscillators, the first stretchable complementary OFET oscillators above 1 kHz and >60× faster than state-of-the-art processes, providing a scalable foundation for skin-like electronics.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.device.2026.101204

    View details for PubMedID 42719738

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC13556919

  • Solvent-Mediated Diffusion Enables Directed Functionalization of Polymer Semiconductor Interfaces. ACS applied materials & interfaces Schrock, M., Michalek, L., Chen, Q. G., Liu, Q., Mow, R. K., Shi, Y., Bao, Z. 2026

    Abstract

    The increasing interest in the development of intrinsically stretchable electronic devices based on polymer semiconductors (PSCs) necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the interfacial chemistry of these PSC films, alongside facile processing methods to modify these properties, which dictate layer compatibility. Solvent-mediated functionalization provides a scalable, controllable, and tunable method to target and modulate several key interfacial properties. Herein, we aim to understand the influence of solvent exposure on a blended polymer film. This is achieved through small molecule modification of a poly-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPPTT) and low molecular weight polybutadiene (BA)-blended elastomer film. We investigated solvent-mediated film functionalization on blended films by incorporating 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT), as the highly fluorinated small molecule provided excellent measurement contrast throughout several characterization techniques. By comparing solvent environments that differentially swell the blended polymer films, we show programming of PFDT incorporation from uniform, through-thickness functionalization to surface-enriched gradients. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) measurements and further corroborated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiles quantified the estimated apparent mass uptake of PFDT. In a non-swelling/compacting solvent environment, QCM-D reflected a diffusion-governed uptake of PFDT with a distinct thickness-dependent concentration gradient. In contrast, swelling films with methoxyperfluorobutane (MPFB) opened diffusion pathways that facilitated PFDT penetration throughout the entire polymer network and resulted in more uniform functionalization across the entire film thickness. Collectively, these results establish a broader understanding of solvent-mediated film functionalization and further the understanding of molecular diffusion through PSC film systems.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acsami.6c07306

    View details for PubMedID 42571656

  • Versatile helicene building blocks for organic electronics. Chemical science Mow, R. K., Schuster, N. J., Bao, Z. 2026

    Abstract

    Semiconducting organic molecules are used extensively in the fabrication of next-generation electronics, which have increased flexibility, processability, and versatility. The use of imide-based aromatic molecules in particular is widespread in n-type electronics, and modifications to naphthalene-diimide and rylene-diimide structures have advanced the properties and applications of these molecules. Here we report the use of the perylene-diimide-inspired helicene N[5]HDI as a new building block of electronic materials. The gram-scale accessibility and selective bromination at key core-extending positions make N[5]HDI an appealing monomeric unit for incorporation into larger molecules with electronically-coupled subcomponents. Specifically, we demonstrate that N[5]HDI undergoes several different palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (Suzuki, Sonogashira, Stille, and Heck) in near-quantitative yields. The resultant π-extended derivatives of N[5]HDI electronically couple the helicene core to the terminal aryl, alkenyl, or alkynyl units despite the overall coiled shape of these molecules. Copolymers of N[5]HDI show continued extension of electronic communication and a further decreased HOMO-LUMO gap with increased chain length. N[5]HDI exhibits strong potential as a helical building block of electronically-coupled materials and for future explorations in organic electronic applications.

    View details for DOI 10.1039/d6sc03819k

    View details for PubMedID 42499575

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC13398414

  • Biofunctionalized polymer semiconductors toward soft and stretchable transistor-based biosensors. Science advances Zhao, C., Liu, Q., Chang, J. Y., Patil, A., Michalek, L., Wu, Y., Yuan, Y., Mow, R. K., Shi, Y., Yao, Y., Hsu, K. J., Zheng, Y., Bao, Z. 2026; 12 (23): eaec2641

    Abstract

    Organic materials with tunable chemical and mechanical properties are ideal for interfacing with skin and tissue in biomedical applications. While polymer semiconductors (PSCs) have advanced toward skin-like mechanical performance, the limited capacity for biofunctionalization has restricted their biosensing applications. In this study, we introduce a direct biofunctionalization strategy for PSCs based on thiol-ene chemistry. We selectively grafted thiolated biomolecules (e.g., aptamers) onto elastomeric domains within an interconnected semiconductor/elastomer network. This approach enables high-resolution patterning down to 10 micrometers while preserving the electronic performance of PSCs. Leveraging this platform, we designed and fabricated skin-like electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors with biofunctionalized channels. These soft and stretchable devices exhibit stable operation in physiological buffers for more than 50 days and maintain performance under up to 50% strain. When functionalized with cortisol-binding aptamers, the sensors achieved sensitive detection across physiologically relevant concentrations, down to the picomolar range. This work establishes a foundation for integrating stretchable and biofunctional PSCs into skin-like wearable devices.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aec2641

    View details for PubMedID 42247494

  • Stereoisomeric mixture of a multigram-synthesized helicene assembles swiftly into hierarchical ribbons <i>via</i> supramolecular sheets JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C Schuster, N. J., Mow, R. K., Lyu, H., Schrock, M., Wu, R., Wu, Y., Zhang, S., Jiang, X., Bao, Z. 2026

    View details for DOI 10.1039/d6tc01202g

    View details for Web of Science ID 001788740000001

  • Intrinsically stretchable complementary circuits based on direct photo-patternable polymer semiconductors NATURE ELECTRONICS Liu, Q., Zheng, Y., Wu, H., Michalek, L., Ronchini, M., Mow, R. K., Wang, W., Park, H., Ji, X., Yu, Z., Yao, Z., Nishio, Y., Zhao, C., Pei, J., Bao, Z. 2026

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41928-026-01599-z

    View details for Web of Science ID 001740770400001

  • Skin-like drift-free biosensors with stretchable diode-connected organic field-effect transistors NATURE ELECTRONICS Zhao, C., Park, J., Maula, D., Yuan, Y., Zhong, D., Wang, W., Liu, Q., Xu, C., Zheng, Y., Mow, R. K., Jiang, Y., Xu, C., Lyu, H., Michalek, L., Berman, A., Jiang, Y., Wei, S., Zhu, C., Wu, C., Abramson, A., Kim, E., Ji, X., Yu, Z., Shi, J., Khatib, M., Shi, B., Bao, Z. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41928-025-01465-4

    View details for Web of Science ID 001586240900001

  • Broad-band Chiral Absorbance of Visible Light. Journal of the American Chemical Society Han, S. Y., Mow, R. K., Bartholomew, A. K., Ng, F., Steigerwald, M. L., Roy, X., Nuckolls, C., Wiscons, R. A. 2022; 144 (12): 5263-5267

    Abstract

    The amplification of chiral absorbance and emission is a primary figure of merit for the design of chiral chromophores. However, for dyes to be practically relevant in chiroptical applications, they must also absorb and/or emit chiral light over broad wavelength ranges. We investigate the interplay between molecular symmetry and broad-band chiral absorbance in a series of [6]helicenes. We find that an asymmetric [6]helicene containing two distinct chromophores absorbs chiral light across a much wider wavelength range than the symmetric [6]helicenes investigated here. Chemically reducing the helicenes shifts the absorption edge of the ECD spectra into the near-infrared wavelength range while preserving broad chiral absorption, producing a [6]helicene that absorbs a single handedness of light across the entire visible wavelength range.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/jacs.2c01650

    View details for PubMedID 35302759