Breaking new ground in nanotechnology
07 September 2010
Sandwiching a layer of silver nanoparticles can improve the performance of organic transistors.
A pioneering study by researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shown that sandwiching a simple layer of silver nanoparticles can significantly improve the performance of organic transistors commonly used in consumer electronics, and this breakthrough is expected to cut down the cost of memory devices such as touchscreens and e-books.
The research was led by Dr Paddy Chan Kwok-leung, Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr Leung Chi-wah, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, with postdoctoral research fellow Dr Sumei Wang as one of the key members.
Organic transistors involve the use of organic semiconducting compounds in electronic components. With the appropriate use of nanotechnology, the performance of organic transistors can be further improved and their size can be reduced, resulting in them being made thinner. The method developed by PolyU researchers is much more compatible with the low-cost, continuous roll-to-roll fabrication techniques used to make organic electronics.
Importantly, Dr Chan and his co-researchers have shown that the thickness of the nanoparticle layer changes the memory device performance in a more predictable way and thereby optimising transistor performance to meet application requirements. Organic transistors made with a 1-nanometer nanoparticle layer have stable memory that lasts for three hours, making it suitable for memory buffers. And transistors with a 5-nanometer-thick layer can retain their charge for a much longer time.
PolyU researchers anticipate a very high potential for the use of organic memory in next-generation memory devices because of its flexibility and relatively low cost.
This research was supported by funding from PolyU and the Research Grants Council.
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