Key criteria for the design and processing of mixed ionic-electronic conductors for record-performance organic electrochemical transistors

The rapid rise of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) in bioelectronics demands the swift and rational development of novel organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) with higher performance. But where do you start? Which polymer backbone should you choose? What side chains offer the best performance? How does microstructure influence solid-state behavior? What key parameters ensure OECT stability over thousands of ON/OFF cycles? And most importantly, how can you combine all these factors to push OECT performance to new heights? In this contribution, we will explore these critical design principles, present recent progress in OMIEC design and processing, and equip you with the essential knowledge to engineer your own OECTs for you to contribute to this exciting field.