GOALI: Mechanics of Permeation Barriers in Flexible Electronics

本研究的目的是研究柔性电子产品中多层有机/无机渗透阻挡层在大机械变形和环境湿度侵蚀下的耐久性和密封性。柔性电子学正在为一系列令人兴奋的应用而开发，例如纸一样的显示器和有机发光二极管。柔性器件中使用的功能有机材料极易受潮，从而导致器件寿命急剧受限，对柔性电子技术未来的成功构成了巨大挑战。多层有机/无机渗透屏障正在成为解决柔性电子产品的严格屏障要求的一种有前途的解决方案。然而，多层渗透屏障的机械失效可能会对屏障性能造成致命影响。到目前为止，多层渗透屏障的机械耐久性在很大程度上是未知的。在这个项目中，将建立一个协作研究框架(从建模、实验到设计)，以探索控制多层渗透屏障的机械耐久性和屏障性能的尚未探索的机制。通过促进对渗透屏障技术的了解，该项目将为发展可行的柔性电子产品铺平道路，这种电子产品的广泛使用满足了广泛的社会需求。拟议的计划还包括综合外展和教育努力。在行业合作伙伴的暑期实习为学生提供了一个独特的机会，可以与多学科的行业专家就前沿研究主题进行互动。此外，该项目还将通过iMachica.org和宏电子网站传播研究成果，从而提高公众对灵活电子技术的认识。

The objective of this research is to investigate the durability and hermeticity of multilayer organic/inorganic permeation barriers in flexible electronics under large mechanical deformation and environmental moisture attack. Flexible electronics is being developed for an exciting array of applications, such as paper-like displays and organic light emitting diodes. The functional organic materials used in flexible devices are extremely vulnerable to moisture, thus result in a sharply limited device lifetime to a grand challenge to the future success of flexible electronics technology. Multilayer organic/inorganic permeation barriers are emerging as a promising solution to the stringent barrier requirement of flexible electronics. The mechanical failure of the multilayer permeation barriers, however, could be fatal to the barrier performance. To date, the mechanical durability of multilayer permeation barriers is largely unexplored. In this project, a collaborative research framework (from modeling and experiments to design) will be built to explore the yet-unexplored mechanisms that govern the mechanical durability and barrier performance of multilayer permeation barriers. By advancing the understanding of permeation barrier technology, this project will pave the way for the development of viable flexible electronics, whose widespread use addresses a wide range of societal needs. The proposed program also includes integrated outreach and education efforts. The summer internship at the industry partner provides the students a unique opportunity to interact with multidisciplinary industrial experts on a cutting-edge research topic. Furthermore, by disseminating research findings via iMechanica.org and macroelectronics.org, the project will also increase public awareness about flexible electronics technology.