Smart-sensors, exploring the use of smart-polymers in organic electronics

有机电子产品，也称为塑料或可印刷电子产品，使用聚合物或小碳基分子半导体，使其具有固有的灵活性，与传统的硅基半导体相比，制造成本低。目前基于有机电子的技术是新型的柔性电话和电视显示器，具有可忽略不计的热量产生的高效照明和塑料太阳能电池。随着对灵活、廉价技术的需求不断增加，人们相信对有机电路的需求将超过硅电子产品。这项研究将集中在塑料电子的另一个日益增长的应用的制造;高度特定的传感器。可穿戴传感器将检测关键生理参数，存储数据并在需要时提供药物。廉价的有毒气体传感器将改善化学处理和人员安全。具有超快响应时间的高度特异性传感器将允许现场检测不同的分析物，从饮用水中的污染物到运动员使用的提高成绩的药物。压敏传感器可以为机器人提供触觉，也可以为烧伤患者恢复触觉。成功实施或改进这些装置将对加拿大人和国际社会的生活产生重大影响。我的研究项目将探索新型刺激响应聚合物（也称为智能聚合物）在有机电子传感器中的应用，并研究环境刺激对所得设备的影响。通过可控聚合，我们将设计和合成新型智能聚合物，其具有可调的刺激响应行为，例如暴露于CO2时的极性变化，从而导致电导率的变化。然后，这些新型聚合物将被纳入有机电子器件中，当暴露于CO2或其他气体时，这些器件的性能将发生显着变化，这取决于所使用的智能聚合物。将智能聚合物集成到这些设备中将产生下一代可弯曲，智能，高度特异性和可调的有机电子传感器。我的研究计划将培养高素质的人才，发现新的合成有机分子和聚合物，可以在不久的将来引入柔性气体传感器。这些专利申请将有利于加拿大和国外的广泛学科，例如，更协调的环境监测，提高化工厂的效率，以及开发新的医疗保健系统以改善生活质量。

Organic electronics, also known as plastic or printable electronics, use polymer or small carbon-based molecule semiconductors, making them inherently flexible with low manufacturing costs compared to traditional silicon based semiconductors. Current technologies based on organic electronics are novel flexible phone and television displays, highly efficient lighting with negligible heat production and plastic solar cells. With the increasing demand for flexible, inexpensive technology, it is believed that the demand for organic circuitry will exceed that of silicon electronics. This research will focus on the fabrication of another growing application of plastic electronics; highly specific sensors. Wearable sensors will detect key physiological parameters, store data and deliver drugs when needed. Inexpensive toxic gas sensors will improve chemical processing and personnel safety. Highly specific sensors with ultra-fast response times will allow for on-site detection of different analytes ranging from contaminants in drinking water to performance-enhancing drugs used by athletes. Pressure-sensitive sensors can give the sense of touch to robotics as well as restoring it for burn victims. Successful implementation or improvement of any of these devices will significantly impact the lives of Canadians and the international community.***My research program will explore the use of novel stimuli-responsive polymers, also known as smart polymers, in organic electronics sensors and study the effect of environmental stimuli on the resulting devices. Through controlled polymerization we will design and synthesize novel smart polymers with tunable stimuli responsive behaviors such as change in polarity upon exposure to CO2, resulting in a change in conductivity. These novel polymers will then be incorporated into organic electronic devices that will exhibit significant changes in performances when exposed to CO2 or other gases, depending on the smart polymer that is used. Integrating smart polymers into these devices will result in next generation bendable, smart, highly specific and tunable organic electronic sensors.***My research program will train highly qualified personnel in the discovery of novel synthetic organic molecules and polymers that can be introduced into flexible gas sensors in the near future. These patentable applications will be of benefit across a wide range of disciplines in Canada and abroad, e.g., more attuned environmental monitoring, increased efficiency in chemical plants, and the development of novel healthcare system for improved quality of life.**