Review of the Common Deposition Methods of Thin-Film Pentacene, Its Derivatives, and Their Performance

Pentacene is a well-known conjugated organic molecule with high mobility and a sensitive photo response. It is widely used in electronic devices, such as in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), photodetectors, and smart sensors. With the development of flexible and wearable electronics, the deposition of good-quality pentacene films in large-scale organic electronics at the industrial level has drawn more research attention. Several methods are used to deposit pentacene thin films. The thermal evaporation technique is the most frequently used method for depositing thin films, as it has low contamination rates and a well-controlled deposition rate. Solution-processable methods such as spin coating, dip coating, and inkjet printing have also been widely studied because they enable large-scale deposition and low-cost fabrication of devices. This review summarizes the deposition principles and control parameters of each deposition method for pentacene and its derivatives. Each method is discussed in terms of experimentation and theory. Based on film quality and device performance, the review also provides a comparison of each method to provide recommendations for specific device applications.