C60CF2 based organic field-effect transistors with enhanced air-stability

Fullerenes and their derivatives are among the most commonly used electron transport materials. However, the use of fullerenes is limited by their low stability in ambient air. Here, we test the hypothesis that the air-stability of fullerene-based electron transport materials can be improved by adding fluorinated functional groups, making the materials less susceptible to degradation by interaction with oxygen and moisture. As proof for the concept, C60CF2 based Organic Field-Effect Transistors (OFETs) are studied. An average mobility of μ=(0.83±0.52)cm2V−1s−1 is found, with a maximum mobility of μ=2.02cm2V−1s−1. Compared to identical C60 OFETs, C60CF2 based OFETs degrade at a much lower rate and even sustain exposure times of up to 60 h in ambient air.