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

有机电子，也被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，与传统的硅基半导体相比，使其固有的灵活性和较低的制造成本。目前基于有机电子技术的技术包括新型柔性电话和电视显示器、高效照明设备和塑料太阳能电池。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。这项研究将专注于制造另一种日益增长的塑料电子应用：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定的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。压敏传感器可以给机器人带来触觉，也可以为烧伤患者恢复触觉。其中任何一种设备的成功实施或改进都将对加拿大人和国际社会的生活产生重大影响。*我的研究计划将探索新型刺激响应型聚合物，也称为智能聚合物，在有机电子传感器中的使用，并研究环境刺激对结果设备的影响。通过控制聚合，我们将设计和合成具有可调刺激响应行为的新型智能聚合物，例如暴露在二氧化碳中时极性的变化，从而导致电导率的变化。然后，这些新型聚合物将被整合到有机电子设备中，当暴露在二氧化碳或其他气体中时，这些设备的性能将发生重大变化，具体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、高度特定和可调的有机电子传感器。*我的研究计划将培训高素质的人员，以发现在不久的将来可以引入柔性气体传感器的新型合成有机分子和聚合物。这些可申请专利的应用将在加拿大和国外的广泛学科中受益，例如，更协调的环境监测，提高化工厂的效率，以及为改善生活质量而开发新型保健系统。**

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.**