Printable Sensors research within the Sustainable Printable Electronics Research Group. Solution-processable semiconductors offer unique opportunities for the development of next-generation sensing technologies for applications including light, temperature and gas detection. Their compatibility with low-temperature, large-area manufacturing enables lightweight, flexible and cost-effective sensor platforms that can be integrated into a wide range of electronic systems.Our research explores the fundamental relationships between molecular design, thin-film processing and device physics to develop solution-processable semiconductors with tailored optoelectronic properties. By understanding how material chemistry and device architecture govern charge transport and photoresponse, we design high-performance sensors operating across the visible and near-infrared spectral regions, with a particular focus on organic phototransistors and multifunctional sensing platforms. This work aims to deliver highly sensitive, low-power devices while establishing the fundamental design principles that underpin the next generation of printable sensing technologies. A quinoidal J-aggregated indacendiselenophene exhibiting high responsivity in ultra-narrowband organic photodetectionhttps://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202521122 Digital Object Identifier (DOI) We demonstrate that heteroatom engineering of quinoidal J-aggregated semiconductors simultaneously enhances charge transport and ultra-narrowband near-infrared photodetection. The resulting ambipolar organic phototransistors combine exceptional responsivity with intrinsic spectral selectivity, providing a molecular design strategy for filter-free optical sensing and imaging technologies. Novel ambipolar polymers for detection beyond 1000 nmMater. Horiz. (2026) 13 (1): 464–472. We report a new family of ambipolar conjugated polymers enabling single-component organic phototransistors with efficient detection beyond 1000 nm in the shortwave infrared. Through molecular engineering, balanced electron and hole transport is achieved while maintaining high photodetectivity and low noise, overcoming a longstanding challenge in organic optoelectronics. The work establishes molecular design principles for next-generation ambipolar semiconductors for flexible infrared sensing, imaging and wearable electronics. This paper was selected for the Materials Horizons Emerging Investigators 2026 collection. Conjugated polymer heteroatom engineering enables high detectivity symmetric ambipolar phototransistorsAdvanced Materials 36 (28), 2402568 We demonstrate that heteroatom engineering of conjugated polymers enables highly symmetric ambipolar charge transport together with exceptional photodetection performance in a single-component organic phototransistor. By tailoring the polymer backbone, balanced electron and hole mobilities, high detectivity and efficient near-infrared photoresponse are achieved without requiring complementary semiconductor blends. This work establishes molecular design strategies for multifunctional organic semiconductors, advancing high-performance printable optoelectronics including photodetectors, imaging systems and integrated sensing technologies. This article was published on 2026-07-09
