Recent Progress in Photochromic Molecules and Their Application in Organic Field Effect Transistors

Abstract

This paper reviews recent progress in the integration of photochromic molecules into organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Three major classes of photoresponsive units—diarylethene (DAE), spiropyran (SP), and azobenzene (AZO)—are highlighted for their incorporation into channel, electrode, and dielectric layers of OFETs, enabling light-controlled modulation of photoelectric properties. These hybrid devices show promise in optical memories, photonic logic circuits, multi-stimuli-responsive sensors, and flexible electronics. This review systematically summarizes the fabrication methodologies for introducing photochromic moieties into OFET components, followed by a detailed evaluation of device performance, including electrical characteristics, photosensitivity, and other functional attributes. The underlying working mechanisms, particularly the structure–property correlations governing photoresponse, are briefly discussed. Despite substantial advances, several critical challenges persist, including photobleaching degradation, limited response kinetics, insufficient operational stability, and difficulties in scalable manufacturing. This paper concludes with an in-depth analysis of these bottlenecks and offers forward-looking perspectives on possible solutions and future research directions for photochromic molecule-functionalized OFETs. Emphasis is placed on molecular design strategies, interface engineering, and device architecture optimization as key pathways toward practical applications.