High school project: Characterization and stability study of perovskite-based phototransistors

Description:

Transistors are devices that constitute the building blocks of modern electronics.  From acting as switches to amplify and process small signals, their applications are endless, and they can be found in everything from computers to smartphones. One special type of transistor is the Thin-Film Transistor (TFT), which is often used in displays, such as those in TVs and smartphones. PhotoTFTs (Phototransistor TFTs) are a special kind of TFT that respond to light. Instead of just controlling electricity, they can detect light and convert it into an electrical signal, making them useful in sensors and cameras.

In this project, students would characterize photoTFTs fabricated using lead halide perovskites as their channel. These materials are already used in next-generation solar panels and photodetectors, due to their ability to absorb and detect visible light, and now researchers are exploring their potential in phototransistors. However, perovskite materials can degrade in the presence of air, humidity or heat. Several strategies have been implemented to mitigate this effect. In imec, we work with thermally evaporated, all inorganic devices which exhibit higher stability under different conditions.

Students working in this topic will learn more about the basic principles of transistors, characterize the perovskite-based devices and track their performance over time and under different test conditions in order to determine their stability, while extract important figures of merit such as mobility, traps, responsivity and detectivity. 

Type of Work: 55% characterization, 30% analysis, 15% literature review

Type of Project: High school internship

Duration: 2 months (summer)

Contact persons: Isabel Pintor (isabel.pintormonroy@imec.be)