Project description
Sustainable yet powerful photonic devices for sensing, security, and information storage
Funded by the European Research Council, the SLOWTONICS project will use biodegradable organic materials to design and improve photonic devices for logistics information processing, sensor systems, and security features. The technology is based on a unique programmable photonic framework, called digital luminescence, which locally controls luminescence at long lifetimes. Although first prototypes have shown potential, including high resolution and simplified read-out, SLOWTONICS will overcome current limitations to exploit new application scenarios and meet industrial application requirements. The ultimate goal is to create efficient communication components from natural materials, targeting systems with material footprints of less than 0.1 mg/system, making them truly minimalistic and sustainable.
Objective
Modern technology should not only provide improved efficiency but follow sustainable and minimalistic design principles for an optimised ecological footprint. Photonic applications, e.g. used for information processing in logistics or sensor systems, currently require more and more complex technological solutions to speed up data storage and processing while creating nonrecyclable waste. SLOWTONICS aims at providing a paradigm shift based on biocompatible organic optoelectronic and photonic components.
The design principle of digital luminescence developed in my research group combines easily processable excitonic states at long lifetimes (> 1 µs) with a programmable oxygen-based switch of the luminescence to create a unique programmable photonic framework. By using organic semiconductors, such systems offer a low ecological footprint, small material consumption, and a high degree of material tuneability for tailor-made technological solutions. First prototypes of programmable luminescent tags have demonstrated the potential of this technology yet missing the requirements for industrial application. Based on the existing expertise of my research group in the fields of organic optoelectronics and spectroscopy of soft luminescence materials, SLOWTONICS will overcome current limitations, to realize industry-relevant systems for optical data storage and exchange, and extend the application of digital luminescence towards luminescent security label and multi-component sensor systems. Once having developed novel communication components, we attempt to realize these designs made only from materials found in nature. This is an essential ultimate step because a world with an ever-growing demand for information requires systems that provide functionality and allow for responsible use. Our approach aims at systems that have material footprints of < 0.1 mg/system, making them truly minimalistic and sustainable.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsoptoelectronics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processing
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
01069 Dresden
Germany