"Flexible and stretchable, composite nanofibrous solar cells and sensors on plastic, paper and fabric"

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Controlled, low temperature deposition of electronic films and fibrous structures from solution has the potential for low cost roll-to-roll production on paper, fabric and plastic for development of "electronic textiles". Applications of electronic skin and textile go beyond today's large area flat panel TVs and iPads and include high impact areas for Canadian economy including clean energy, advanced materials manufacturing, and environmental monitoring. Examples of these applications include low cost solar cells that are laminated on roofs of buildings or integrated directly on clothing with lower than $1/Watt cost, smart packaging materials and smart bank notes as added-value new products for Canada's pulp and paper and printing industry, and sensory network for monitoring of mechanical strain, temperature and chemical species in form of an "electronic skin" for structural and environmental monitoring. Inspired by the fibrous structure of natural system, this proposal will develop novel composite nanofiber devices for high efficiency and low cost solar fabric, stretchable and flexible electronic skin and environmental sensors. Building on our expertise for synthesis of nanomaterials including ZnO, Ge, Si, Cu nanowires, formation of composite inks from nanowires, nanotubes and conjugated polymers, and novel scalable deposition techniques such as electrospinning, spraying and stamping, this proposal will develop novel fibrous devices with controlled microstructure and embedded nanostructures, which can be directly integrated onto the microfiber structures of papers and fabric. In addition to material and device development, we investigate the sensitivity of charge transport to environmental disturbances such as temperature, atmosphere composition and humidity, so as to understand aging mechanisms and develop novel low cost sensors for environmental monitoring. The proposed program will train personnel in a wide range of expertise including materials science, microfabrication, and prototype design and development. The technical work will be matched with entrepreneurial expertise at UBC and Canadian industries to explore ways for commercialization of developed concepts.