PolyNet, the Network of Excellence for the exploitation of organic and large area electronics
PolyNet is a Network of Excellence (NoE) with 17 partners from 10 countries. The activities within PolyNet are divided into three main platforms: the Knowledge platform, the Service platform and the Research cooperation platform. A significant part of the budget is devoted to research collaborations within the latter platform, as these activities are crucial to build up the NoE.
The Research Cooperation Platform
The main task of the research cooperation platform is to perform collaborative research work in cooperation clusters, consisting of 4 to 7 PolyNet partners. Important objectives of this task are to focus on such issues and problems that demand the collected effort of several partners to be resolved and are commonly viewed to be important for the development of the field, and to promote present and future collaboration by regular exchange of staff.
Six research collaborations have been in operation during 2008 and have recently reported their activities and results. In the following, we will present an overview of these research activities for each collaboration. Further information and contact details are available at www.vdivde-it.de/polynet.
Collaboration 1 – Laser ablation
The laser ablation collaboration has set as a goal to integrate laser-ablative microstructuring into R2R printing technology.
During 2008 it has been shown that functional conductive PEDOT:PSS patterns can be R2R produced by gravure printing followed by laser ablation. A test pattern with an inset showing the measured depth profile of one laser ablated line is shown in Figure 1.
Collaboration 2 – Thin film batteries
The second collaboration aims to analyse production methods for thin film batteries to be able to propose efficient production methods. Anode and cathode inks for printed lithium-based batteries have been formulated and used in successful printing trials, showing promise for screen and gravure printed batteries.
Collaboration 3 – Nanoimprint lithography
A technology platform consisting of six PolyNet partners has been set up to demonstrate the feasibility of R2R nanoimprinting for the fabrication of sub-μm OTFTs.
During 2008, the material system has been defined and the feasibility of the process demonstrated from the front-end to the core process. We believe this is the first technology platform for such high resolution processing in Organic Electronics in Europe.
Collaboration 4 – Multifunctional materials
In the fourth collaboration, the focus is on materials with the potential to limit the number of steps in fabrication of organic opto-electronic devices. Several new n- and p-type organic semiconductors have been synthesized and oriented semiconductor films have been deposited. Chemical, structural and electrical characterisation of materials and OTFTs has been performed.
Collaboration 5 – Device modelling
The modelling collaboration has the goal to find physical analytical device models that can be inserted into commercial software to predict circuit performance. Focus is on OTFTs and Schottky diodes, and on predicting gate voltage stability. Recently, characterisation of PTAA components has been performed and work has been initiated on TIPS-based components.
Collaboration 6 – Component integration
The last collaboration has gathered four partners to show that different classes of organic components can be merged into a functional system. A demonstrator (Figure 2) based upon an OTFT transistor and a screen printed electrochromic display, connected via an anisotropic conductive adhesive, has been built and successfully shown to work.
For further information, please contact: Isak Engquist.