Materials World Network: Fundamental Investigations of Conjugated Polymers Enabled by Orthogonal Lithography

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该研究项目将研究使用新发现的称为正交光刻的工艺来研究有机半导体的新器件的基本行为。有机半导体用于薄的柔性电子电路，为创造低成本电子产品提供了可能性，这些电子产品将为日常用品提供新的智能功能。 这方面的一个例子可能是智能绷带，一种可以感知愈合的伤口覆盖物，与医务人员沟通，并可能释放抗生素。 正交光刻是康奈尔大学发现的有机电子材料的突破性制造工艺，涉及使用可溶于环境安全的含氟溶剂的图案化材料。正交光刻将用于制造复杂的多层有机半导体器件，这是其他方法无法实现的。我们预计将开发一系列新材料、新工艺，并可能开发新产业。由此产生的可转移技能将在康奈尔大学和我们在剑桥大学的合作伙伴之间共享，在个别同事的互访期间。参与的学生和其他研究人员不仅将参与全球领先的研究，而且通过与英国合作伙伴的互动，将接触到科学向市场的转移。该项目旨在利用正交光刻技术创建独特的器件架构，阐明有机电子材料的基本原理。关键的研究机会，如在共轭聚合物的单晶结构域中探测电荷传输的能力将是拟议研究的重点。该项目结合了康奈尔材料和剑桥有机电子小组的互补技能，将阐明有机半导体物理学的重要方面，并推进有机图案科学。拟议研究的意义在于，如果成功，我们将有机会更好地了解有机材料中的电荷产生、注入、传输和复合，以及实现目前无法实现的有机半导体器件特性和功能。计划中的研究受益于这个经验丰富的国际团队的互补技能，康奈尔大学的团队将在开发复杂的抗蚀剂和有机物良性图案化工艺以及精密材料表征方面提供专业知识，而剑桥团队将为合作带来卓越的器件物理能力。方案执行机构将对高中女生，特别是她们的教师开展外联活动，因为这将大大增加其影响。最后，工业界对这项研究的预期发现表现出兴趣。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This research project will study the fundamental behavior of new devices made to study organic semiconductors using a newly discovered process called orthogonal lithography. Organic semiconductors used in thin, flexible electronic circuits offer the possibility of creating low cost electronics that will provide new intelligent capabilities to everyday items. An example of this might be a smart bandage, a wound covering that can sense healing, communicate to medical staff and possibly release antibiotics. Orthogonal lithography, a breakthrough fabrication process for organic electronic materials that was discovered at Cornell University involves the use of patterning materials soluble in environmentally safe fluorine containing solvents. Orthogonal lithography will be used to make complex, multilayer organic semiconductor devices not possible by other means. We expect a range of new materials, processes and possibly industries will be developed. The resulting transferable skills will be shared between Cornell and our partners at Cambridge University during exchange visits of individual coworkers. Participating students and other researchers will not only take part in globally leading research, but through interactions with our UK partners, will be exposed to the transfer of science to the marketplace.This project aims to leverage orthogonal lithography to create unique device architectures that will elucidate the fundamentals of organic electronic materials. Key research opportunities such as the ability to probe charge transport in a single crystalline domain of a conjugated polymer will be the focus of the proposed research. The project combines the complementary skills of the Cornell Materials and the Cambridge Organic Electronics groups in a study that will elucidate vital aspects of organic semiconductor physics and advance organic patterning science. The significance of the proposed research is that if successful we have the opportunity to better understand charge generation, injection, transport, and recombination in organic materials as well as to achieve organic semiconductor device properties and features that are presently inaccessible. The planned research benefits from the complementary skills of this experienced international team in which the group at Cornell will provide expertise in the both the development of sophisticated resists and processes for the benign patterning of organics, and in precision materials characterization, while the Cambridge group will bring to the collaboration their exceptional device physics capabilities. The PIs will conduct outreach to high school girls and particularly their teachers, as this greatly increases its impact. Finally, industry has shown interest in the anticipated discoveries coming from this research.