Organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs) are possibly the smallest integrated optoelectronic devices that combine the switching and amplification mechanisms of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and the electroluminescent characteristic of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Such a unique architecture of OLETs makes them ideal for developing the next-generation display technology and electrically pumped lasers for miniaturized photonic devices and circuits. However, the development of OLETs has been slow. Recently, some exciting progress has been made with breakthroughs in high mobility emissive organic semiconductors, construction of high-performance OLETs, and fabrication of novel multifunctional OLETs. This recent slew of advances may represent the advent of a new development stage of OLETs and their related devices and circuits. In this paper, a detailed review of these fantastic advances is presented, with a special focus on the key points for developing high-performance OLETs. Finally, a brief conclusion is provided with a discussion on the challenges and future perspectives in this field.
Keywords: display technology; electrical-driven organic photonic devices; electrically pumped organic lasers; high mobility; organic light-emitting transistors; strong emission.
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