WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Grant: $100,000 - National Science Foundation - Jul. 23, 2009
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Award Description: To study two hybrid organic/inorganicsystems for which the effects of employing IPM Materials will specifically address a primary limitation in each system. The first is in organic nonvolatile memory devices, where the use of IPMs can lead to increased rectification, allowing devices to be incorporated into a simple and practical cross-point array. The second is in quantum dot hybrid electrochemical cells, where IPMs could be used to create afixed junction, enabling the construction of low-cost and flexible solar cells that can be finely tuned to overlap with the solar spectrum. Our lab's overall goal is to develop extensive fundamental knowledge concerning ionic carriers in conjugated polymer mixed conductors, to guide design by enabling the development of predicitive models, and to apply this knowledge to improve organic systems for low-cost energy generation, conversion, and storage.
Project Description: The ability of organic materials to conduct both ionic and electronic currents in the solid state sets these materials apart from their inorganic counterparts, potentially enabling disruptive technologies not modeled after existing semiconductor devices, yet these benefits are under-utilized, in part because the fundamental electrochemical processes in these materials are not well characterized, and means to control them do not yet exist. However, we have recently provided evidence that ion-paired monomers (IPMs) provide an avenue to better control electrochemical processes in organic electronic applications. The overarching research goal of this program is to study two hybrid organic/inorganic systems for which the effects of employing these materials will specifically address a primary limitation in each system. Work accomplished since the start of this grant includes progress toward the demonstration of the proposed device structures, including infrastructure development and synthesis of needed materials (conductive polymer and quantum dots). Device construction and characterization are currently underway. In addition to the described research goals, this grant supports my educational activities with the Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) at Western Washington University. The Center provides a range of activities, including a new minor degree in materials science and engineering.I have been actively involved during program development, including building and planning curriculum, as well as the development of a capstone undergraduate internship program. Specifically, I developed the content and structure of the two new core sequence courses on the chemistry and physics of materials. In addition, I helped to launch the AMSEC Internship Program this summer with an initial two successful completed internships.
Jobs Summary: Grant Director (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jul. 23, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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