In this paper, we discuss the effect of flexible substrates on the
characteristics of two organic optoelectronic devices, namely
P3HT:PCBM-based photovoltaic bulk heterojunctions and pentacene-based
phototransistors. In addition, we have developed anode materials deposited
by ion beam sputtering, a technique which satisfies the low temperature
deposition requirements associated with the use of plastic substrates. The
anode materials consisted of indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO/metal/ITO
tri-layers. The use of tri-layer anodes in P3HT:PCBM-based solar cells
resulted in an increase in the fill factor and the power conversion
efficiency reached a value of 2% with an ITO(70 nm)/Ag(14 nm)/ITO(70 nm)
anode deposited on a polyphthalate carbonate substrate. In the case of
phototransistors, a photosensitivity of 1.6 × 104 under illumination at
365 nm (with a power intensity of 7 mW/cm2) was obtained in the
off-state of the transistor. We have fine-tuned the anode structure and
deposition/annealing conditions towards flexible organic devices and optimal
device characteristics.