Organic electronics receives a boost in central Macedonia
With less material use and simple processing methods compared to conventional inorganic components, organic electronic devices (OEDs) are enabling organic versions of commonly inorganic semiconductor devices. These include light-emitting diodes, thin-film transistors, sensors and memories to photovoltaic cells. The AUTh Physics Department is a leader in supporting technologies such as thin-film and material technology, flexible polymeric materials and high-barrier layers for encapsulation of flexible OEDs. Enhancement of research capacity through hiring and training of personnel, purchase of infrastructure and collaboration with EU research groups would help create a critical mass for OED research in the EU convergence area of central Macedonia. This was the impetus for the project ROLEMAK (Reinforce organic electronics research potential in Kentriki Makedonia). Experienced researchers from universities and research institutes outside Greece joined the AUTh team to transfer their own know-how and experience to the scientific community of central Macedonia. Researchers brought expertise to development and characterisation of organic and barrier materials, deposition processes, and device fabrication and testing. AUTh upgraded its existing infrastructure and peripheral equipment. The upgraded roll-to-roll processing supports several printing techniques for fabricating active or passive organic thin films, while it can also laminate them. The upgrade glovebox has now sufficient space to host a spin and a dip coater with their peripherals, an inkjet printer and a slot die. ROLEMAK also facilitated transmission electron microscopic studies, providing researchers with the opportunity to study organic thin-film microstructure and morphology. A low-frequency capacitance metre, electrometers and device simulation software were integrated into the electrical measurements equipment. The upgraded scanning near-field optical microscope and the fluorescence spectrophotometer enable simultaneous nano-scale imaging and chemical analysis of organic semiconductors. Results from research activities were disseminated through numerous publications, workshops, conferences and a book. Exploitation of results enabled the establishment of many start-up companies in organic electronics in central Macedonia. In addition, ROLEMAK created a competence cluster and established the Hellenic Organic and Printed Electronics Association (HOPE-A).
Keywords
Organic electronics, central Macedonia, organic electronic devices, thin-film, roll-to-roll
