Electron Beam Induced Tailoring of Electrical Characteristics of Organic Semiconductor Films

Tailoring the characteristics of organic semiconductors including molecular semiconductor and conducting polymers is the frontline area of research for improving the performance of organic electronic devices. Electron beam treatment has been established as one of the easiest method in comparison to others like chemical doping, thermal processing, ozonolysis, UV and other ionizing radiation treatment, to tune the physico-chemical properties of organic semiconductors. High energy electron beam (EB) generated from an accelerators impinges energy to the material and causes several phenomena including doping, crosslinking, chain degradation, gas evolution, molecular structural modifications, oxidation and unsaturation. Such modifications lead to variation in electrical characteristics and consequently affect the overall device performances. In the present review we have focused on the different interaction processes of EB with organic semiconductors and its implications to tailor the performance of device comprising of it mainly gas sensors, field effect transistors, thermoelectric power generators and radiation dosimeters. Graphic abstract