Polymeric integrated AC follower circuit with a JFET as an active device

In this paper, successfully combining UV lithography and ink-jet printing techniques, we have fabricated a polymer-based AC follower circuit, including a polymer junction field-effect transistor (JFET) as the active device, and an ink-jet printed conductive polymer resistor. The polymer JFET, using poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDT/PSS) as the channel and poly (2,5-hexyloxy p-phenylene cyanovinylene) (CNPPV) as the gate, was fabricated by the conventional ultraviolet (UV) lithography techniques. As measured, the JFET's pinch-off voltage reaches 1 V that is in the applicable range, and the current is 13.8 muA at zero gate bias. By integrating the JFET and the polymer resistor, we tracked the frequency response of the follower circuit, and the circuit shows good frequency following features when the frequencies are higher than 10 kHz. Furthermore, the factors influencing the performance of the circuit, including the effects of load resistors, the JFET parameters, and the fabrication techniques, are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.