Strategies Towards Plastic Memory Devices

Lead Research Organisation: Durham University
Department Name: Engineering and Computing Sciences

Abstract

Conventional electronic circuitry (i.e. as developed for telecommunications, personal computers and domestic appliances) is based around the semiconductor silicon. Plastic electronics is a rapidly developing field of research in which the individual devices are based on organic (e.g. polymer or plastic) materials. The advantages of such plastic circuitry is that it is relatively cheap to produce and it can be made in large area and flexible forms (e.g. suitable for displays). This project focuses on the development of memory elements for plastic electronics technology. The work will follow up a successful project at Durham in which the charge storage elements are small metallic particles (nanoparticles).

Publications

10 25 50
publication icon
Dimitrakis P (2008) Electrical behavior of memory devices based on fluorene-containing organic thin films in Journal of Applied Physics

publication icon
Mabrook M (2008) Memory effects in hybrid silicon-metallic nanoparticle-organic thin film structures in Organic Electronics

publication icon
Mabrook M (2009) Charge Storage in Pentacene/Polymethylmethacrylate Memory Devices in IEEE Electron Device Letters

publication icon
Mabrook M (2009) A pentacene-based organic thin film memory transistor in Applied Physics Letters

publication icon
Pearson C (2007) Electronic memory device based on a single-layer fluorene-containing organic thin film in Applied Physics Letters

 
Description The aim of the grant was to explore two different strategies in order to develop memory devices based on organic materials. Specifically, our objectives were to: follow up our initial experiments with nanoparticle flash memory devices, and to provide an understanding of the underlying physics of operation; to extend the work to organic semiconductors; and to explore the use of metallic and semiconductive nanoparticles in resistive memories.
The first two areas formed a natural extension to our
Exploitation Route Further research is needed (further funding) to explore the implications of our findings. Electronics companies should then approached to see if these have any interest in taking the work forward to commercial development.
Sectors Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics
 
Title Switch Memory Element, UK 
Description Final patent application not followed up. 
IP Reference GB0703864.9 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted
Licensed No
Impact None to date.