Periodic Reporting for period 1 - smolSUB (Launch of a universal sublimation technology for molecular transfer on SUBstrates)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-11-01 bis 2025-04-30
SmolSUB was created to respond to the insertion of molecules into substrates. It is a recently developed sublimation technology that allows organic material to be deposited under mild conditions on any type of substrate, from rigid to flexible, from inorganic to biotic, from smooth surfaces to preformed electronic devices, offering almost infinite possibilities for promoting the easy, ecological and economical identification of optimal combinations (molecules-substrates) in the evaluation of pure systems, special coatings and/or novel electronic devices, among others. This is possible thanks to a set of sublimation devices whose design maximises the amount of molecules sublimated onto the substrates, minimising losses, cost, time and energy. The sublimation devices are suitably sized for use as testers. They are modular, portable and easily adaptable, with replaceable parts; they can be integrated into existing processes and equipment.
SmolSUB technology represents a profound change in the R&D of organic electronic devices/sensors, promoting the easy and practical combination and testing of new materials for direct applications. The project was created to promote new devices with improved features, in parallel with efforts to ensure efficient transfer in the technology protection process.
SmolSUB technology represents a profound change in the R&D of organic electronic devices/sensors, promoting the easy and practical combination and testing of new materials for direct applications. The project was created to promote new devices with improved features, in parallel with efforts to ensure efficient transfer in the technology protection process.
SmolSUB was divided into three main activities:
Action 1 (Intellectual Property (IP)) followed the natural process of expansion of the patent, which was granted in Spain and it is currently in national phases (Europe and US) through the PCT application. Moreover, during the course of the project, modifications in the first sublimator model have been performed in order to cover a wider range of applications and/or to improve its performance and data acquisition. In this regard, the modifications to the model have been carried out in an attempt to ensure that the new design is covered by the patent. However, whenever the technical requirements of the device have escaped from the scope of the previously granted claims, the group’s technology transfer experts have worked, together with the assistance of HI transfer department, to find the best IP strategy. This part highlights the fact of the interest and novelty of the device.
In Action 2 (Research/Industrial validation), contacts have been established with different research groups (a total of 20) and companies (a total of 8), consolidating the active relationship for the use of our devices with a total of 5 research groups and 1 company. In this objective, the initial glass device has been distributed to them, with which they have been able to carry out certain experiments (most of them still have the system in their possession and wish to continue using it). In this action it is worth mentioning the advertising of the device among possible future stakeholders of our technology, which has been very well received. As a result of this interaction with the early adopters of our technology, we want to highlight the fact that the received feedback has been of high value in order to keep improving our portfolio of equipment looking to cover the most interesting applications beyond or first expectations.
In an initial stage, molecular electronics was explicitly marked as a field of attraction for stakeholders, but it has also been possible to identify uses of our systems in the area of microfluidics (one of the groups, expert in the field, has been able to perform reproducible and successful experiments that could not be carried out using other types of techniques) and biomedicine (there is a company interested in the integration of our device as an intermediate step in one of its procedures). Therefore, the validation process carried out evidences of the use of our devices in several areas of interest have been proven.
Action 3 (creation of devices/kits/catalogs) requires different steps, starting by the characterization of the performance of the devices, studying the vacuum and temperature capabilities with a range of 7 different molecules and 5 different substrates. A new scientific paper has been published using one of the sublimation devices (of the former ERC Conslidator project, mentioned here as the way to advertise the devices) and the further results are expected to be published in the next moths, even after the end of the project. This knowledge is being used to shape the practical guide and application notes for the use of the device. The possibility of adding in situ measurements, which require greater complexity in the systems, has been evaluated and new devices have been designed to this purpose. In this matter, a quartz crystal microbalance (qcm) and temperature sensors have been successfully included to on time monitor the deposition rate and internal temperatures, respectively. A new sample holder has also been created for providing greater adaptability of the system to different substrates. This information will be extrapolated to all devices. It is important to note that we have achieved high reproducibility in all our experiments, which proves that the devices are robust and reliable.
Action 1 (Intellectual Property (IP)) followed the natural process of expansion of the patent, which was granted in Spain and it is currently in national phases (Europe and US) through the PCT application. Moreover, during the course of the project, modifications in the first sublimator model have been performed in order to cover a wider range of applications and/or to improve its performance and data acquisition. In this regard, the modifications to the model have been carried out in an attempt to ensure that the new design is covered by the patent. However, whenever the technical requirements of the device have escaped from the scope of the previously granted claims, the group’s technology transfer experts have worked, together with the assistance of HI transfer department, to find the best IP strategy. This part highlights the fact of the interest and novelty of the device.
In Action 2 (Research/Industrial validation), contacts have been established with different research groups (a total of 20) and companies (a total of 8), consolidating the active relationship for the use of our devices with a total of 5 research groups and 1 company. In this objective, the initial glass device has been distributed to them, with which they have been able to carry out certain experiments (most of them still have the system in their possession and wish to continue using it). In this action it is worth mentioning the advertising of the device among possible future stakeholders of our technology, which has been very well received. As a result of this interaction with the early adopters of our technology, we want to highlight the fact that the received feedback has been of high value in order to keep improving our portfolio of equipment looking to cover the most interesting applications beyond or first expectations.
In an initial stage, molecular electronics was explicitly marked as a field of attraction for stakeholders, but it has also been possible to identify uses of our systems in the area of microfluidics (one of the groups, expert in the field, has been able to perform reproducible and successful experiments that could not be carried out using other types of techniques) and biomedicine (there is a company interested in the integration of our device as an intermediate step in one of its procedures). Therefore, the validation process carried out evidences of the use of our devices in several areas of interest have been proven.
Action 3 (creation of devices/kits/catalogs) requires different steps, starting by the characterization of the performance of the devices, studying the vacuum and temperature capabilities with a range of 7 different molecules and 5 different substrates. A new scientific paper has been published using one of the sublimation devices (of the former ERC Conslidator project, mentioned here as the way to advertise the devices) and the further results are expected to be published in the next moths, even after the end of the project. This knowledge is being used to shape the practical guide and application notes for the use of the device. The possibility of adding in situ measurements, which require greater complexity in the systems, has been evaluated and new devices have been designed to this purpose. In this matter, a quartz crystal microbalance (qcm) and temperature sensors have been successfully included to on time monitor the deposition rate and internal temperatures, respectively. A new sample holder has also been created for providing greater adaptability of the system to different substrates. This information will be extrapolated to all devices. It is important to note that we have achieved high reproducibility in all our experiments, which proves that the devices are robust and reliable.
These distinctive features position smolSUB technology as a powerful tool that will significantly boost R&D development. Therefore, the short-, medium-, and long-term impacts of the SmolSUB project are summarized below, along with the related KPIs:
Short term: 1.1. In R&D development, the number of molecular materials tested will increase. 1.2. Testing and manufacturing methodologies for related industries will be improved. 1.3. Chemical waste and water consumption will be reduced. Key performance indicators (KPIs): 1.4. Number of new materials tested (ok>20). 1.5. Lower amount of starting material used, and lower amount of solvent required (ok <10 mg and ok <10 ml). 1.6. Reduction in chemical waste and water savings (ok <500 mg/year and >200 l/sublimation).
Mid-term: Promote the discovery and creation of improved hybrid materials/devices based on molecules for industrial applications, as well as the development of more efficient and effective OLEDs and OSCs. KPI: Compare the number of materials discovered before and after the implementation of the device (acceptable if >50); compare the effectiveness of the devices before and after the implementation of the device (acceptable if >10%).
Long term: Society will have access to efficient, technologically advanced, and affordable devices (portable devices, smartphones, LCD monitors) and OSC panels, which will reduce society's dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 footprint and improve air quality for everyone. KPI: compare the quality/price of different devices before and after implementation of the device (ok > 20% of the final price); compare the carbon footprint and air quality before and after implementation of the OSC panels developed thanks to the device in the surrounding urban areas (ok > 10%).
To execute the actions required to achieve the above-described impacts, the following key must be fulfilled. From the technological part of the process, further prototype development, validation and optimisation post-validation are required. For this, more connections with companies and academic research groups are needed, as well as funding to implement the novelties in the new versions of the prototypes. Future steps also will imply the business aspect of the project, as the customer development plan, knowledge about the market access, and financial information.
Short term: 1.1. In R&D development, the number of molecular materials tested will increase. 1.2. Testing and manufacturing methodologies for related industries will be improved. 1.3. Chemical waste and water consumption will be reduced. Key performance indicators (KPIs): 1.4. Number of new materials tested (ok>20). 1.5. Lower amount of starting material used, and lower amount of solvent required (ok <10 mg and ok <10 ml). 1.6. Reduction in chemical waste and water savings (ok <500 mg/year and >200 l/sublimation).
Mid-term: Promote the discovery and creation of improved hybrid materials/devices based on molecules for industrial applications, as well as the development of more efficient and effective OLEDs and OSCs. KPI: Compare the number of materials discovered before and after the implementation of the device (acceptable if >50); compare the effectiveness of the devices before and after the implementation of the device (acceptable if >10%).
Long term: Society will have access to efficient, technologically advanced, and affordable devices (portable devices, smartphones, LCD monitors) and OSC panels, which will reduce society's dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 footprint and improve air quality for everyone. KPI: compare the quality/price of different devices before and after implementation of the device (ok > 20% of the final price); compare the carbon footprint and air quality before and after implementation of the OSC panels developed thanks to the device in the surrounding urban areas (ok > 10%).
To execute the actions required to achieve the above-described impacts, the following key must be fulfilled. From the technological part of the process, further prototype development, validation and optimisation post-validation are required. For this, more connections with companies and academic research groups are needed, as well as funding to implement the novelties in the new versions of the prototypes. Future steps also will imply the business aspect of the project, as the customer development plan, knowledge about the market access, and financial information.