CAREER: Organic Memory Devices Based on Insulating Polymers and C60 Fullerene Molecules

本研究的目的是研究一种由分散在绝缘聚合物（聚苯乙烯或聚苯乙烯）中的C60分子组成的新型纳米复合材料，用于存储器件。这种装置易于制造和分子性质（C60分子储存电荷）结合了有机电子学和分子电子学的优点。方法是深入研究C60/绝缘聚合物纳米复合材料作为有机记忆材料的基本性质。此外，我们的研究将为使用纳米转移印刷（nTP）在聚合物薄膜上沉积金属纳米线提供见解。此外，还将获得有关金属纳米线功耗和交点结构有机存储器件阻抗的信息。我们预计，这些基础知识将对C60/聚合物纳米复合材料的实际有机存储器件的未来发展至关重要。更广泛的影响拟议项目的更广泛影响来自于开发快速切换，低功耗和非易失性存储器，这将鼓励更多的待机操作，节省能源并延长电池寿命。有机存储器还将提供即时启动和更快的处理速度。作为技术计划的补充，PIs承诺将科学和工程带给代表性不足的少数民族学生和妇女。本职业发展计划的教育目标有三个重要目标：教师研究经验（RET）， NSF本科生暑期研究经验（REU）计划，以及为工程专业学生开发一门带有实验模块的有机电子学课程。

Intellectual MeritThe objective of this research is to investigate a novel nanocomposite material consisting of C60 molecules dispersed in an insulating polymer (polyvinyl phenol or polystyrene) for memory devices. The ease of fabrication and molecular nature (the C60 molecules store the charge) of the devices combine the advantages of organic and molecular electronics. The approach is to thoroughly investigate the fundamental properties of C60/insulating polymer nanocomposites as organic memory materials. In addition, our research will provide insights into the deposition of metal nanowires onto polymer thin films using nanotransfer printing (nTP). Furthermore, information regarding power dissipation by the metal nanowires and impedance in crosspoint architecture organic memory devices will also be obtained. We anticipate that such fundamental knowledge will be essential for the future development of realistic organic memory devices from C60/polymer nanocomposites.The broader impactsThe broader inpacts of the proposed project arise from the development of a fast switching, low power consuming and non-volatile memory which would encourage more standby operations, save energy and extend battery life. The organic memories would also provide instant boot up and faster processing. Complementing the technical plan is the PIs commitment to bringing science and engineering to underrepresented minority students and women. The educational goal of this Career Development Plan has three important objectives: research experience for teachers (RET), NSF summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) program and to develop an Organic Electronics course with a Laboratory module for engineering students.