Flexible electronic and optoelectronic: from materials to devices

Study level

PhD
Master of Philosophy
Honours
Vacation research experience scheme

Background

The future of electronics and optoelectronics is expected to be flexible, in order to be applied to various applications that we can bend, flex, wrap and wear: flexible pressure sensors, flexible photodetectors, flexible solar cells, flexible gas sensors, flexible ion batteries and electronic skins. In this project, we use the state-of-the-art in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy to study mechanical, electrical and optoelectronic properties of functional semiconductors at the nanometre scale, and finally fabricate a flexible device application in one of the best laboratories in Australia.

Research Activities

The students would be focus on one of the following applications and their properties:
– flexible pressure sensors: correlate mechanical forces and electrical signals of materials.
– flexible photodetectors: study photocurrent spectroscopy, photocurrent of semiconducting materials.
– flexible solar cells: spin coating on flexible substrates to fabricate solar cells.
– flexible ion batteries: fabricate flexible lithium-ion batteries

Outcomes

The functional materials will be carefully analysed using in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy at nanometre and nanosecond scale. The nanomaterials will be coated or fabricated to the flexible devices. Finally, devices will be characterized and evaluated. (Depending on the length of the project)

Skills and experience

Students with backgrounds in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optoelectronics or other related fields are welcomed. Students with research experience or publications are preferred.