Reflective display technologies aim to enable the delivery of dynamic digital content to devices that have the look and feel of ink on paper. We are presenting herein a novel device architecture design and proprietary electrically addressable inks, which enable low power, disruptive, print-like full color reflective display that can exceed the chromaticity represented by the Specifications for Newsprint Advertising Production (SNAP) standard. We are approaching the challenge of generating bright high-quality reflective color images from the perspective of printing by stacking electro-optic layers of subtractive colorants to address every available color at every location. Using in-plane optical effects, our novel media technology provides fast switching between clear and color states. Thin, flexible electronic media based on this technology has been fabricated by imprinting three-dimensional micro-scale structures with a continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing platform. HP’s combination of novel device architecture, proprietary inks, and R2R manufacturing platform enables the required attributes for electronic media such as flexibility, robustness, low power, transparency, print-quality color, and scalability at low cost. The structure property relationship of surfactants has been carried out; their impact on performance of display devices has been studied. These results have been applied to improve the performance of electronic inks. We have demonstrated 3-layer stacked segmented reflective display prototypes, as well as pixelated stacked color reflective display prototypes. The innovations described in this paper are applicable to electronic skins for customizable electronic surfaces and are currently being developed further for electronic paper and signage markets.

Zinc oxide layers with a thickness of less than 10 nanometers have been synthesized from an aqueous solution for the application as active layer in thin film transistors. They have been conditioned by applying different oxidizing and reducing atmospheres during an annealing process at a temperature of 125°C. It is shown that the charge carrier mobility and threshold voltage is strongly influenced by the annealing atmosphere. Samples annealed in 10% forming gas (H2 in N2 - reducing atmosphere) show the highest field-effect-mobility of 0.6 cm2V-1s-1, but no saturation of the drain current, due to a high free carrier concentration. Samples treated under oxygen (strongest oxidizing atmosphere) show significantly lower mobilities. Subsequently, the samples have been exposed to synthetic air, with varying exposure times. Samples which have been annealed under hydrogen atmospheres show a pronounced decay of the drain current if exposed to synthetic air, whereas all samples conditioned under hydrogen-free atmospheres are significantly more stable under synthetic air. This enhanced sensitivity against oxygen after hydrogen treatment is attributed to residual hydrogen content in the sample that supports the formation of OH-groups which act as electron acceptors.

ZnO/Au/ZnO (ZAZ) electrodes grown on flexible PEN substrates were evaluated as transparent electrodes for organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). OLEDs fabricated with the ZAZ electrodes showed reduced leakage in contrast to control OLEDs on ITO and reduced ohmic losses at high current densities. At a luminance of 25000 cd/m2, the lum/W efficiency of the ZAZ electrode based device was 5% greater than for the device on ITO. The ZAZ electrodes also allow for a broader spectral output in the green wavelength region of peak photopic sensitivity compared to ITO. The results have implications for electrode choice in display technology.

Recently, tremendous progress has been made toward application of organic (small molecule/polymer) light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in full color flat panel displays and other devices. However, with current technologies, OLEDs are still struggling with high manufacturing costs which really limit the size of OLEDs panels and with life time, especially differential aging of colors. To be more cost-effective for fabricating OLEDs, we believe solution-processing would be an attractive path due to its simplicity and highly reduced equipment costs. This proceeding paper discusses our recent progress in development of new polymer systems that are highly solvent-resistant but maintaining their photophysical properties and hybrid quantum-dots (QDs)-polymer nanocomposites for their use in multicolor and multilayer OLEDs pixels through solution-processing. Our new polymer systems are named conductive semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (C-Semi-IPNs) served in different layers of OLEDs devices, containing an inert polymer network and conducting polymer(s) including hole transport and emissive materials. Since these do not require complicated chemical modification or introduction of reactive moieties to OLED materials, many state-of-the-arts emissive polymers can be utilized to achieve RGB and white OLEDs. The research findings on hybrid QDoligomer nanocomposite as a good analogue lead to the successful design and synthesis of QDpolymer nanocomposites which were used to build proof-of-the-concept devices showing a good promise in providing excellent color purity and stability as well as device robustness.

We report here a novel hybrid nanostructure for ultra-sensitive sensing applications based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). We rationally engineered gold-coated polymer pillar structures, named as gold nanofingers, in analogy to the tweezers at nanoscale, for active molecule capture and detection using SERS technique. Using nanoimprint lithography, we have demonstrated a cost effective manufacturing method of making such hybrid structures over large scale and achieve reliable enhancement factor. In particular, we have demonstrated the sensing application of the nanofinger structures for melamine and chlropyrifos. The limit of detection (LOD) of melamine in water is found to be 10 nM (1.3 ppb), and LOD of chlropyrifos (a pesticide) is found to be 1 nM (0.35 ppb), which is below the EPA tolerance level of 0.1 ppm for chlropyrifos on citrus fruits.

This work shows the relationship between the morphology (studied by AFM) of an active bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) layer composed by MEH-PPV (poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) and PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) and the respective photovoltaic figures of merit. It is observed that the most relevant parameter (influencing the efficiency) is the fill-factor (FF), as both the open circuit voltage and short circuit current are not significantly affected by the microscopic morphology. Different local conformation of the active films can change the FF from near 25% to more than 65%, having a strong impact in the efficiency. These results were modulated by an equivalent circuit. Serial and parallel resistances were related with the physical behavior of the organic cells. These were observed to have a direct relationship with the achieved morphology.

We report the fabrication and characterization of a microstrip patch antenna composed entirely out of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on a silicon substrate. The antenna showed excellent response in the X-band, for which it was designed. In addition, an observed left-shift resonance effect points towards significant potential for miniaturization. The antenna also showed very promising reliability under different operating conditions. Such antennas may therefore have significant promise for system-on-chip, space application, and other specialized applications.

Oxide-embedded Silicon nanoparticles (OE-Si-NPs) are of great interest for many applications due to unique size effects observed when their size drops below 5 nm (Silicon’s Bohr exciton radius). Some of the suggested applications require patterning of the nanoparticles in an ordered array. Lithographic methods to pattern Si-NPs are common in the literature, however these methods can be costly, and are not time-efficient. Recently, non-lithographic patterning techniques have become very attractive because they are cost-effective and straightforward. In this proceeding we will demonstrate non-lithographic patterning of OE-Si-NPs characterized via AFM and XPS.

The Schottky barriers that forms on the interface between aluminum and organic semiconductor of polymer heterojunction photodiodes based on poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methylester blend, has been investigated according to Mott-Schottky curves. We focused on the effect of light intensity on the Schottky barrier widths and I-V characteristics of the devices. Comparison of the mathematical models and experimental data measured under different light intensities indicate a dependency of Schottky barrier to the light intensity.

The reactivity of silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) in near-UV photochemical hydrosilylation was evaluated as a function of size. Results show that Si-NCs with photoluminescence (PL) in the visible spectral region react faster than Si-NCs with near-IR PL. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggests this difference in reactivity is due to quantum size effects in the exciton-mediated mechanism proposed for this reaction. We have carried out a detailed comparison of Si-NC reactivity in photochemical and thermal hydrosilylation and determined the conditions under which Si-NCs may be size-selected based on their reactivity.

Fabrication of TiO2 nanofibers and their applications as the electron transporting layer for hybrid photovoltaic cells were studied. TiO2 nanofibers were electrospun onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) on glass substrate with a thin TiO2 blocking layer from a precursor solution [polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), titanium(IV) butoxide (TiBu), and acetylacetone (ACA)] in methanol. Many sources of precursor for fabrication of the thin TiO2 blocking layer, i.e. sintered TiO2 nanoparticle paste, sintered TiO2 nanoparticle-dispersed solution, TiBu solution with ACS in methanol, and titanium isopropoxide solution in ethanol were studied. The thin TiO2 blocking layer/nanofiber electrode was subjected to calcination at 450 °C for 3 h. The nanofiber electron transporting matrix was penetrated by blended poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Thermal annealing and deposition of Au electrode were then carried out. After photovoltaic characterizations, it was found that hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic cells made of TiO2 nanofibers exhibited remarkable improvement of the cell efficiencies as compared with that of TiO2 flat film. Maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic cells made of TiO2 nanofibers of 1.11% could be obtained (efficiency of flat TiO2 device = 0.28%).

Electrophoretic displays, the rewritable non-light-emitting display technology based on the movement of colored pigments inside a low dielectric liquid as a voltage is applied, have attracted a great deal of academic and commercial interests due to the combination of the advantages of both electronic displays and conventional paper, including paper-like high contrast appearance, ultra-low power consumption, thinness, flexibility etc. Fabrication of electrophoretic ink by microencapsulating the electrophoretic suspension into individual microcapsules is one way to realize such application. However, there are still some limitations for its commercial application, such as the dispersion and the electrophoretic mobility of charged particles due to the nano-particles aggregation, the barrier property and stability of microcapsule wall due to the suspension releasing, etc. In this presentation, systematic studies on the preparation of electrophoretic particles and microencapsulation by complex coacervation method were carried out to solve the mentioned problems. The obtained microcapsules can be quasi-monolayer coated on ITO/PET substrate and driven by static mode to obtain a matrix character display prototype.

Ferromagnetic CrO2 nanoparticles embedded in a diamagnetic matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) presents an example of granular giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in a diluted magnetic composite structure. Usefully significant MR occurs at room temperature, viz. -6.8% in 3.0 wt% CrO2-PVA, at field as small as 1.1 kOe. We suggest that the system is a natural analogue to dilute ferro-fluid structures composed of nanoscale magnetic particles in a viscous organic fluid (diamagnetic as well as an electrical insulator), i.e., this material displays a GMR effect without an introduction of chemical interfaces. It has great potential in various applications and can also facilitate studies of magnetotransport properties in GMR materials.

This work describes the fabrication of highly sensitive graphene-based field effect transistor (FET) biosensors in a cost-effective way and its application in label-free DNA detection. CVD graphene was used to achieve mass production of FET device through photolithography method. Non-covalent functionalization of graphene with 1-Pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidyl ester ensures the high conductivity and sensitivity of the device. The present device could reach the low detection limit as low as 3*10-9 M.

This paper describes first steps in preparation of an organic spin valve based on a perylene derivative (PTCTE) sandwiched between magnetite (Fe3O4) and cobalt (Co) ferromagnetic electrodes. MgO(001)/Fe3O4/PTCTE (450 nm)/Co devices were prepared with different Co soft deposition methods: off-axis dc-sputtering or Joule evaporation. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) studies of the Fe3O4/PTCTE/Co stacks evidence spin valve behavior with magnetically uncoupled electrodes. These results are correlated with a morphological study by atomic force microscopy (AFM) of each layer and tunneling AFM (TUNA) for the investigation of inhomogeneity of current distribution in the devices. Finally, macroscopic I-V characteristics performed on the same devices will be presented and compared with TUNA results.

Core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (CSNPs) composed of a ferrimagnetic core (CoFe2O4) embedded in an antiferromagnetic shell (CoO) were produced using seed mediated growth in a polyol. Different core sizes and shell thicknesses were considered. The structural and magnetic properties of assemblies of these nanoparticles were characterized by means of X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, dc-magnetometry (SQUID) and 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. The measured EB magnetic field values, at low temperature, are found to be weak whatever the microstructural characteristics of the studied CSMNPs. Simultaneously, both the magnetization and the interparticle interaction (mainly dipolar) appear clearly reduced when the shell thickness increases.

Optical materials in the optical circuit board are required to overcome soldering process. In detail, the material should not have absorption and shape changes after several tens of seconds heating at around 250 °C. For such application field, we have developed a novel organic-inorganic hybrid material having a high thermal stability and low absorption at telecom wavelength.

The hybrid material was designed to solvent less resin, which is free radical curable with heating at 150 °C or UV exposure at room temperature, for the sake of device fabrication activity. We demonstrated the waveguides fabrication by photolithography, and obtained high uniformity cured materials. Transparency of the waveguide sample at telecom wavelength was 0.10 dB/cm at 850 nm, 0.12 dB/cm at 1060 nm, 0.29 dB/cm at 1310 nm, and 0.45 dB/cm at 1550 nm. These values are good low attenuation for the Near-IR optical communication in optical interconnects. Without any further treatment such as post bake, the cured materials showed a high thermal stability. The temperature of 5 % weight loss was over 400 °C, and the transparency hardly changed after 1 min heating at 300 °C.

In addition, the cured material showed a high refractive index of n=1.60 at 633 nm and a low curing shrinkage about 4.7 %. From these properties, the developed organic-inorganic material is expected to be beneficial for the optical interconnection such as micro lenses and optical packages.

Transparent polymer nanocomposites with high refractive index were prepared by grafting polymer chains onto TiO2 nanoparticles. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was used to prepare poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer brushes grafted from TiO2 nanoparticles. The refractive index of the hybrid material increased from 1.49 for neat PMMA to 1.6 by increasing the loading of TiO2 to 40 weight percent. UV-vis spectra showed that grafted particles had a transparency of more than 90% in the visible light range. The hybrid particles can be processed into transparent, high refractive index coatings and self-standing films. The grafted TiO2 nanoparticles can also be easily dispersed into a polymer matrix forming thick, robust transparent polymer nanocomposites.

The aim of this study is to analyze and mitigate the voltage drift phenomenon observed in top-emitting organic light emitting diodes (OLED) when driven at constant current. An operating device may experience voltage increase over time due to factors such as interface or bulk material degradation, charge accumulation and formation of trap states. Single-carrier devices were fabricated to understand the contribution to voltage drift from each of these causes. Doping in electron injection layer (4, 7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline or Bphen) and hole injection layer (2,2’,7,7’-tetra(N,N-di-tolyl)amino-spiro-bifluorene or Spiro-TTB) were optimized to obtain ohmic injection contacts. Devices with tris(8-hydroxy-quinoline) aluminium (Alq3) degrade significantly with holes injection and undergo high voltage increase in lifetime test measurements. On the contrary, devices with N,N’-di(naphtalen-1-y1)-N,N’-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB) exhibit an ambipolar charge transport behavior and low voltage drift under both hole and electron injection.