Solution-Processed Zinc Oxide Transistors for Low-Cost Electronics Applications

Transparent conductive oxides are promising candidates for realization of transparent electronics for display applications. The use of solution-processing techniques allows for a dramatic reduction in cost per unit area of electronic functionality. As a result, there is tremendous interest in the use of solution-processed transparent conductive oxides for realization of low-cost transparent electronic systems. Zinc oxide is processable out of solution using a variety of routes, including the use of nanoparticles, nanowires, and chemical bath deposition. By optimizing the deposition processes, it is possible to realize solution-processed transparent semiconductor films offering performance that is comparable to or better than amorphous silicon, while offering the advantages of transparency. Here, techniques for fabrication of solution-processed ZnO-based transistors are reviewed, and the outlook for such technologies is discussed.