Research in the Optoelectronics Group
Our research program is built on a broad scientific approach aiming to understand the electronic properties of polymer semiconductors in general, but also aiming to understand in-depth the physical processes that govern the performance of polymer electronic devices. There is, generally, considerable overlap between the interests of the different members of staff.
Academic members of staff are:
| Professor Sir Richard Friend |
| Professor Henning Sirringhaus |
| Professor Neil Greenham |
| Dr Howard Hughes |
| Dr Anoop Dhoot |
| Dr Jenny Clark |
To investigate the physical properties of polymer semiconductors we apply a
broad set of structural, electrical,
electrooptical and optical techniques to
obtain a deep understanding of all relevant aspects of the physics of
conjugated polymers. A particular speciality has been the development and use
of specialised optical spectroscopy techniques, which can be perfomed on
operational devices to elucidate their device physics. We also apply ultrafast
laser spectroscopy to resolve the dynamics of processes such as energy transfer,
charge generation, or exciton recombination (link to Fast lab). For device
fabrication we have available cleanroom solution processing and printing
facilities equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as high-accuracy
inkjet printers.
Interfaces
A particularly important issue is related to the electronic structure of interfaces between two different polymers. These might be in so-called "blends" where polymers are mixed on a fine scale - sufficiently small to be similar to the exciton diffusion length - or as separately deposited layers. Various deposition techniques - largely based on solution processing - are used in the group to create many state-of-the art polymer light-emitting or photovoltaic diodes, or a semiconducting and a gate dielectric polymer at the active interface of a field-effect transistor.
Spin-offs
We have commercialised some of our scientific discoveries through formation of three spin-off companies: Cambridge Display Technology is developing polymer LED technology for emissive, full-colour displays, Plastic Logic is using organic transistors to enable flexible paper-like displays, and Eight19 is developing roll-to-roll manufacturing of polymer-based solar cells.