Project Summary: The program focuses on developing a new class of high-resolution, high-speed, low-power-consumption, full-color electronic paper displays (E-PADs) using molecular motors as active components. The specific molecular motors to be used are redgreen-blue (RGB) tri-station catenanes. The proposed research will (1) investigate the electrochromic properties of RGB catenanes in polymeric matrix, and (2) construct a prototype color-switchable E-PAD based on RGB catenanes.
Intellectual Merit: Artificial molecular motors and machines such as RGB catenanes represent a promising and challenging field of interdisciplinary research. If successful, this research could lead to a new technology for energy efficient, high speed and full color display technology.
Broader Impact: In addition to its technical contributions, this NSF project will impact society by implementing vigorous education and outreach programs that are closely integrated with the proposed research and designed for groups at all levels. Underrepresented students will participate extensively in the proposed research.
Artificial molecular motors and machines represent a promising and challenging field of interdisciplinary research. For example, the PI and colleagues developed a molecular motor-based Nano-Electro-Mechnical-System (NEMS)¾this work was highlighted as a news story in the journal Nature, and selected by CAS Science Spotlight as "one of the five most intriguing articles in the third quarter of 2005." Most recently, the PI demonstrated a molecular motor-based plasmonic switch, a key component for future nanophotonic integrated circuits¾this work was featured as the front cover image on the journal Advanced Materials and highlighted as a news story in the journals Nature Materials and Nature Photonics. Built upon the PI’s recent success in molecular motor-based NEMS and plasmonic nanoswitches, in this project the PI is developing molecular motor-based full-color electronic paper displays (E-PADs). The E-PADs he is developing has the following advantages (high-resolution: 1270 dpi or higher; high-speed: MHz range; low driving voltage to rewrite images: 0.5-1 V) and could have transformative impact on future display industry. In addition to its technical contributions, this NSF project also impacted society by implementing vigorous education and outreach programs that are closely integrated with the proposed research and designed for groups at all levels.
