Development of intelligent, electrically tunable optical materials by exploring nanostructures: a path towards a new generation of electro-optical devices

电光材料在外加电场的作用下表现出可调谐的光学性质，在偏振器、光开关、显示器和智能玻璃等众多光电子应用中具有极大的吸引力。在这些应用的推动下，市场对这类材料的需求预计将继续扩大。以智能玻璃为例，根据2015年最新的市场分析，到2022年，其全球市场规模预计将达到47.1亿美元。开发低成本、高性能的材料和相关技术是非常必要的，是支持其现实世界应用的持续增长和实质性实施以及实现巨大市场价值的核心。近年来，具有独特或增强性能的新型纳米材料的发展为设计和实现具有预先设计、改进的性能和性能的电光材料和器件提供了大量的新机会。**在本项目中，我们计划与我们的行业合作伙伴1-Material合作，通过探索将纳米材料用作有源电光元件和悬浮粒子器件中的柔性透明电极，开发新概念、低成本和高性能的电光材料和器件。该项目将为结构-财产-绩效关系提供新的见解。它还将带来与行业高度相关的新材料、工艺和设备，包括1-材料。**该项目还将为学生和PDF提供一个独特的培训机会，使他们能够与行业合作伙伴密切和广泛地合作。除了宝贵的行业经验外，他们还将在纳米材料、纳米技术、智能设备等重要领域获得广泛的专业知识，从而成为加拿大高科技行业科研人员职位的有吸引力的候选人。相反，他们将通过做出明智的决策并为工业需求提供创新的解决方案，为技术发展和突破做出贡献。********

Electro-optical materials, exhibiting tunable optical properties in response to an external electric field, are highly attractive for numerous optoelectronic applications, such as polarizers, optical switches, displays and smart glass. The market demand for such materials are expected to continuously expand, largely driven by these applications. Using the smart glass as an example, its global market size is expected to reach USD 4.71 billion by 2022 based on a very recent market analysis in 2015. The development of low cost and high performance materials and related technology is highly desired and is the core for supporting continuous growth and substantial implementation of their real world applications and for achieving tremendous market values. Recent great advances in the development of new nanoscale materials with unique or enhanced properties offer ample, new opportunities in designing and realizing electro-optical materials and devices with pre-engineered, improved properties and performance. ** In the present project, we plan to work with our industry partner, 1-Material, on the development of new concept, low cost and high performance electro-optical materials and devices by exploring the use of nanomaterials as active electro-optical elements and in flexible transparent electrodes in suspended particle devices. The project will provide new insights into structure-property-performance relationships. It will also lead to new materials, processes and devices, highly relevant to the industry, including 1-Material.** The project will also provide a unique training opportunity for students and PDFs to work closely and extensively with the industry partner. Along with a precious industry experience, they will gain extensive expertise in the important fields of nanomaterials, nanotechnology, intelligent devices, etc., thus becoming attractive candidates for scientific staff positions in Canadian high-tech industry. Conversely, they will contribute to technology developments and breakthroughs by making educated decisions and offering innovative solutions to industrial needs. ********