EAGER: Photonics-on-Paper - A New Paradigm in Low Cost Device Technology

目标：这个项目的目标是探索在纸衬底上使用光子器件的可行性，最终目标是开发一种使用卷到卷的方法在纸上打印超低成本光子学的新范例。智力的优点：智力的优点是结合了最古老和应用最广泛的天然材料之一？纸(纤维素)？拥有最新和最令人兴奋的设备类别之一？光子学。对于选定的设备应用，纸张是一种非常有吸引力的基板材料：成本非常低，几乎可以提供任何尺寸(从预切到卷到卷)、多功能(表面光洁度可以极大地改变其特性)、便携(重量轻)和灵活。纸上光子学是一种革命性的概念，通过在最普遍的可再生和可生物降解材料上实现超低成本的集成芯片制造，有可能给光子学领域带来革命性的变化。更广泛的影响：更广泛的国家影响是：(A)美国光电子行业的潜在复苏，通过与美国造纸公司的密切合作，美国光电子行业的主动性和市场份额已被亚洲的竞争对手抢走；(B)在成本至上的发展中国家使用低成本光电子的潜力；(C)在发展绿色？设备通过使用可再生的天然材料作为主要组成部分。更广泛的地方影响是：(D)工科本科生通过专门设计的顶峰项目、高级项目参与研究项目？电气工程专业；(E)通过新兴民族工程师方案和罗威妇女中心，增加任职人数不足的学生的参与率。

Objective: The objective of this program is to explore the feasibility of photonic devices on paper substrates, with the ultimate goal of developing a new paradigm of ultra low cost photonics printed on paper using roll-to-roll approaches.Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit is in combining of one of the oldest and most widely utilized natural materials ? paper (cellulose) ? with one of the newest and most exciting categories of devices ? photonics. Paper is a very attractive substrate material for selected device applications: very low cost, available in almost any size (from pre-cut to roll-to-roll), versatile (surface finishes can greatly alter its properties), portable (light weight) and flexible. The photonics-on-paper is a transformative concept that has possibility of revolutionizing the field of photonics by enabling ultra low cost fabrication of integrated chips on the most ubiquitous renewable and biodegradable material. Broader Impacts: The broader national impacts are: (a) potential revival of the American photonics industry, which has experienced loss of initiative and market share to Asia-based competitors, through close collaboration with American paper companies; (b) potential for using low-cost photonics in the developing world, where cost is paramount; (c) significant step forward in the development of ?green? devices through the use of a renewable natural material as a major component. The broader local impacts are: (d) involvement of undergraduate engineering students in research projects through specifically designed capstone ?senior projects? in Electrical Engineering; (e) increase in underrepresented student participation through the Emerging Ethnic Engineers Program and the Rowe Center for Women.