Project description
Developing plastic ionic crystals as electronic skin components
Organic plastic ferroelectrics possess inherent pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties, rendering them more sustainable and flexible when compared to traditional ceramic ferroelectrics. They are well suited for use as coatings over large areas, including in the creation of touch-sensitive electronic skins for humanoid robots. The MSCA-funded FERROPLAST project is dedicated to the development of plastic ionic crystals (PICs) as components for electronic skins. PIC ferroelectrics exhibit high pyro/piezoelectric coefficients, malleability and multi-axial polarisation, making them suitable for flexible thin films with multiple sensor capabilities. FERROPLAST proposes a systematic approach to design piezoelectric and pyroelectric integrated circuits, which are based on crystalline and phase-pure PIC thin films embedded in elastomers manufactured through molecular layer deposition. It will investigate PICs under varying temperatures and pressures.
Objective
Organic plastic ferroelectrics with inherent pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties have the potential to outperform traditional ceramic ferroelectrics, particularly in terms of sustainability and large area fabrication as flexible coatings. The latter is highly sought as means to continue the current evolution of humanoid robots by offering touch sensitive electronic skins.
FERROPLAST focuses on development of plastic ionic crystals (PICs) as the active sensitive component of such skins. PICs are comprised of globular ions tethered by weak intermolecular forces and demonstrate plastic crystal phase at higher temperatures. The PIC ferroelectrics possess intriguing features as high pyro and piezoelectric coefficients, malleability, and multi-axial polarization suitable to realize multi-sensor property in flexible thin films. FERROPLAST proposes: (1) Rational designing of PICs based on chirality, ionic size and intermolecular interaction strength to have high pyro/piezoelectric coefficients; (2) Fabrication of crystalline and phase pure PIC thin films embedded in elastomer by molecular layer deposition (MLD) for application as flexible electronic skin; (3) Study of crystal phase landscape in thin films under variable temperature and pressure using grazing incidence XRD to estimate multi-sensor ability of PICs; (4) Selection of ions by insight in entropy of phase transitions as calculated by first principle DFT studies.
At the core of FERROPLAST is knowledge building and exchange between the experienced researcher’s background in supramolecular chemistry to design and synthesize PIC ferroelectrics and the host’s core focus on MLD thin film engineering and characterization of physical properties in thin film structures, and the secondment on first principle DFT calculation of lattice phonon density of state. FERROPLAST will expand the competence and focus of all parties by mutual aid and competence building to push our respective fields further beyond state of art.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robots
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpiezoelectrics
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
0313 Oslo
Norway