Semiconducting polymers possess unique attributes that make them an excellent venue with which to enhance opto-electronics and semiconductor device instruction and to further the state of knowledge in the field.
Research Plans
Semiconducting polymers make possible efficient, lightweight, thin, large area, flat-panel, and even mechanically flexible displays, yet important technical issues must be resolved before using the materials in even a prototype computer monitor. The research plan concentrates on increasing device efficiency by using materials design, chemical synthesis, and device characterization to improve understanding of charge injection and transport in heterojunction devices. The specific aims are to improve electroluminescence efficiency:
by improving electron injection
by using new emissive polymers
by designing new emissive co-polymers that ease electron injection and confine carriers to the emissive layer
Instructional Innovations
A primary aim of this project is to incorporate semiconducting polymers into the undergraduate curriculum. Devices based on semiconducting polymers offer simple and relatively low cost means of exposing lower division students to semiconductor device fabrication, characterization and operation in preparation for upper division treatments of semiconductor physics, electronics, and opto-electronics. The specific aims are to:
Involve students in projects that emphasize interdisciplinary research, engineering, and teamwork.
Develop a Chemistry course module to teach synthesis and characterization of semiconducting polymers.
Revise the required Electronic Devices and Electronics Manufacturing courses to let students build and test polymer light-emitting diodes [LEDs] which are opto-electronic components that literally shed light on semiconductor device operation.
Revamp the Solid State Electronics course to incorporate opto-electronic device theory and experiments based on polymer LEDs and photo-detectors.
Mentor Cal Poly students who choose to complete senior projects on topics related to semiconducting polymer devices. ***
