Light-controlled manufacturing of semiconductor structures: a platform for next generation processing of photonic devices
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Chemistry
Abstract
This Platform Grant (PG) will apply our internationally-leading expertise in structured illumination and hybrid inorganic/organic semiconductor optoelectronic devices to create new opportunities in the rapidly developing field of light-controlled manufacturing. Structured illumination fields can in principle be obtained from both inorganic (GaN) and organic LEDs, implemented on a macroscale via relay optics, or demagnified to a microscale. Novel manufacturing with photopolymerisable materials can firstly involve use of structured illumination as a novel means to control motorised stages. This technique can be combined with pattern-programmable UV excitation for mask-free photolithographic patterning, continuous photo-curing over larger fields, localised photochemical deposition, or other forms of photo-labile assembly. Process variants can also be envisaged in which arbitrarily positioned fluorescent objects or markers are 'hunted', and then subject to beam excitation for photocuring or targeted photoexcitation. This method could be used, for example, to immobilise individual colloidal quantum dots for use as emitters in quantum technology applications. Multifunctional devices with sensing ability, such as organic lasers for explosives detection, represent another excellent example of automated devices operating under remote conditions. Further examples of the envisaged uses of this technology include:
[1] LED microdisplay asset tags for management of high-value objects (artworks, nuclear fuel containers).
[2] Passive asset tags containing unique micro-patterns of fluorescent objects (eg. colloidal quantum dots, organic macromolecules) for higher-volume, anti-counterfeiting applications.
[3] Customisable continuous-flow micro-reactors for fine chemical manufacturing.
[4] Energy harvesting micro-modules to power other autonomous microsystems, where we will focus on organic PV and ambient-radiation (RF) approaches.
[1] LED microdisplay asset tags for management of high-value objects (artworks, nuclear fuel containers).
[2] Passive asset tags containing unique micro-patterns of fluorescent objects (eg. colloidal quantum dots, organic macromolecules) for higher-volume, anti-counterfeiting applications.
[3] Customisable continuous-flow micro-reactors for fine chemical manufacturing.
[4] Energy harvesting micro-modules to power other autonomous microsystems, where we will focus on organic PV and ambient-radiation (RF) approaches.
Planned Impact
Our work centres on an exciting new approach to the manufacturing of photonic devices that will impact academic and commercial beneficiaries and the public sector. The approach uses arrays of electronically-interfaced light-emitting devices (gallium nitride and organic LEDs, plus hybrids) to generate patterned illumination for a range of coordinated manufacturing functions. These devices provide precision tooling down to the sub-micron level to locate, write on and develop photoresist layers and photosensitive nanocomposites in a directed and spatially localised manner, whilst also controlling mechanically activated multi-step assembly and facilitating process monitoring. Such structured and targeted light is ideal for spatially localised excitation to enable the targeted photo-setting of light-sensitive materials but the same source can also map and identify the area to be illuminated and control the assembly process. This approach does not require a precision mask for patterning of the device and is therefore a highly convenient, low-cost and flexible method for producing a range of differently patterned devices with features down to the micro and nanoscale.
The types of applications we will target range from automated, self-locating systems to hybrid semiconductor devices for visible light communications. The latter includes light fidelity or LiFi, a powerful technology to complement WiFi, which is reaching its limit in terms of data transfer rates with rapidly increasing user demand. Our work will therefore be highly beneficial to the manufacturing sector, end-users in a wide range of businesses (e.g. warehouses, smart lighting for offices and meeting rooms), and the information and communications technology sector. Potential collaborators and beneficiaries include: printing companies that could adopt our manufacturing techniques (Nano Products Ltd., Printed Electronics Ltd., both UK; XCeleprint, Ireland); mask-less lithographic companies (Heidelberg Instruments, Germany); manufacturers of chemical micro-reactors (Little Things Factory, Germany); suppliers of GaN-on-Si LED wafers (Plessey Semiconductors, UK); EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Large Area Electronics, Catapult Centre in High Value Manufacturing.
The types of applications we will target range from automated, self-locating systems to hybrid semiconductor devices for visible light communications. The latter includes light fidelity or LiFi, a powerful technology to complement WiFi, which is reaching its limit in terms of data transfer rates with rapidly increasing user demand. Our work will therefore be highly beneficial to the manufacturing sector, end-users in a wide range of businesses (e.g. warehouses, smart lighting for offices and meeting rooms), and the information and communications technology sector. Potential collaborators and beneficiaries include: printing companies that could adopt our manufacturing techniques (Nano Products Ltd., Printed Electronics Ltd., both UK; XCeleprint, Ireland); mask-less lithographic companies (Heidelberg Instruments, Germany); manufacturers of chemical micro-reactors (Little Things Factory, Germany); suppliers of GaN-on-Si LED wafers (Plessey Semiconductors, UK); EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Large Area Electronics, Catapult Centre in High Value Manufacturing.
Publications

Altinolcek N
(2020)
Yellowish-orange and red emitting quinoline-based iridium(III) complexes: Synthesis, thermal, optical and electrochemical properties and OLED application
in Synthetic Metals

Altinolcek N
(2021)
A red-orange carbazole-based iridium(III) complex: Synthesis, thermal, optical and electrochemical properties and OLED application
in Journal of Organometallic Chemistry


Amano H
(2020)
The 2020 UV emitter roadmap
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics

Angioni E
(2019)
Implementing fluorescent MOFs as down-converting layers in hybrid light-emitting diodes
in Journal of Materials Chemistry C

Cameron J
(2022)
Amino acid functionalised perylene bisimides for aqueous solution-deposited electron transporting interlayers in organic photovoltaic devices
in Journal of Materials Chemistry C

Cameron J
(2020)
The damaging effects of the acidity in PEDOT:PSS on semiconductor device performance and solutions based on non-acidic alternatives
in Materials Horizons

Chappell G
(2020)
Suspension and transfer printing of ZnCdMgSe membranes from an InP substrate
in Optical Materials Express

Edwards P
(2023)
Electroluminescence hyperspectral imaging of light-emitting diodes using a liquid crystal tunable filter
in Applied Physics Letters

Elmasly SET
(2018)
Synergistic electrodeposition of bilayer films and analysis by Raman spectroscopy.
in Beilstein journal of organic chemistry
Related Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/P02744X/1 | 30/06/2017 | 31/12/2017 | £1,288,118 | ||
EP/P02744X/2 | Transfer | EP/P02744X/1 | 01/01/2018 | 30/07/2022 | £1,169,073 |
Description | Single molecule conductors with light-emitting properties have been discovered and proven to have the highest current modulation recorded in single molecule devices. Emissive materials have been developed that can be used in hybrid LED devices as frequency downconverters to produce specific colour outputs or white light. |
Exploitation Route | For the downconverters, the materials are being developed through an IAA project since they have commercial value in micro LEDs. |
Sectors | Chemicals Electronics Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | An IAA award was granted to work with Plessey on the supply of new materials for device applications. This has expanded to an ongoing collaboration with Plessey Semiconductors with the potential for exploitation of IP. The above developed has led to a joint-funded PhD student who started in October 2021. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | 'Hetero-print': A holistic approach to transfer-printing for heterogeneous integration in manufacturing |
Amount | £5,541,652 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R03480X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 05/2024 |
Description | IAA - Synthesis of organic materials for downconverters |
Amount | £49,999 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 319082/0 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 07/2023 |
Description | Structured illumination and digital lighting at the few-photon level |
Amount | £476,159 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S001751/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 06/2022 |
Title | Micromanipulators for nanoprobing |
Description | Two nanoprobes, mounted on micromanipulators, have been installed within a scanning electron microscope allowing measurements of mechanical (e.g. stress, force) and electrical (e.g. IV, EBIC) on a local scale. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Results starting to be reported in journal publications |
Title | A Study on Varying the Number of Fluorene Units in 2, 1, 3-Benzothiadiazole-Containing Oligomers and the Effect on OLED Performance and Stability |
Description | This dataset contains raw data for the above titled article, published in the journal ChemPhotoChem. The data includes synthesis characterisation data for new compounds and characterisation of the physical properties of the target compounds including absorption and emission spectra, thermal characterisation, cyclic voltammetry. Data from organic light-emitting diode devices is also included and characterisation of these devices such as lifetime measurements, electroluminescence and atomic force microscopy topography measurements. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://researchdata.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1372 |
Title | Amino Acid Functionalised Perylene Bisimides for Aqueous Solution-deposited Electron Transporting Interlayers in Organic Photovoltaic Devices |
Description | Consists of current voltage plots, external quantum efficiency graphs, atomic force microscopy images, UV/Vis absorption spectra |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://researchdata.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1186 |
Title | Deposited data presented in BICOP2018 paper 'Digital illumination in micro-scale direct-writing photolithography....', M Stonehouse et al |
Description | Experimental data presented in figures in the above manuscript, to be published in IEEE Explore |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | None to date |
Title | Deposited data presented in BICOP2018 paper 'Water resistant caesium lead bromide crystal composites' P Alves et al |
Description | Experimental data used in figures in the above paper, to be published in IEEE Explore |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | None to date |
Title | Effect of end group functionalisation of small molecules featuring the fluorene-thiophene-benzothiadiazole motif as emitters in solution-processed red and orange organic light-emitting diodes |
Description | A series of red fluorescent materials (compounds 1-4), which each contain the symmetric fluorene-thiophene-BT-thiophene-fluorene core, is presented along with their performance in solution-processed OLED devices. Extending the molecular conjugation through end-capping with additional fluorene units (compound 2), or through incorporation of donor functionalities (compounds 3 and 4) improves OLED performance relative to the parent compound 1. Notably, incorporating triphenylamine donor groups in compound 3 led to solution-processed OLED devices operating with a peak luminance of 2888 cd m-2 and a low turn-on voltage (3.6 V). |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Highly Nonlinear Transport Across Single-Molecule Junctions via Destructive Quantum Interference |
Description | Please note that the data files associated with this record are embargoed until the associated research article is published. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://researchdata.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1062 |
Title | Implementing fluorescent MOFs as down-converting layers in hybrid light-emitting diodes |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Supporting data for 'Suspension and transfer printing of ZnCdMgSe membranes from an InP substrate'. Optical Materials Express, 10, 3328 (2020) |
Description | Data etc. used to produce figures in the published paper |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Expected commercial impact in 3-5 years. |
URL | http://doi.org/10.15129/b3974689-3d7c-49d0-ab7a-c7fd7c1f1382 |
Title | Supporting data for IPC conference paper on micro-scale automated alignment and spatial tracking |
Description | Numerical data and explanatory text used to make figures in published version of output. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | These data will allow others to critically assess the accuracy of the automated alignment. |
Title | Supporting data for Optical Materials Express journal article on lead halide perovskite dots-in-crystal color converer |
Description | Files of numerical data and explanatory text used to make figures in journal article |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | This is likely to of use in applying this material in practical visible light communiction. |
Title | Tetrathiafulvalene-oligofluorene star-shaped systems: new semiconductor materials for fluorescent moisture indicators |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Description | Single molecule conductance |
Organisation | Columbia University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A new conjugated molecule has been synthesised and is being studied for its single molecule conductance using the break-junction method. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is with Prof Latha Venkataraman from Columbia University, USA. The partners are experts in studying single molecule conductance using the break-junction method. They are carrying out such measurements on two new materials made from the Skabara group. This method is an alternative way of characterising the conductance of target molecules, compared to the methods applied by our co-investigators in Oxford. |
Impact | We have discovered a new chemical design principle for exploiting destructive quantum interference. The approach has provided a six-nanometer single-molecule switch where the on-state current is more than 10,000 times greater than the off-state current - the largest change in current achieved for a single-molecule circuit to date. The work is multi-disciplinary and involves chemistry (Glasgow) and applied physics (Columbia). The work has been published in Nature Nanotechnology and has received significant coverage in the scientific press (Physicsworld, Science Bulletin, EurekAlert!, ScienMag, Science Daily, Brinkwire, sciencenewsnet.in, Nanowerk, Newswise, Phys.org, Scitech Daily, Bioengineer.com). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | International Conference on the Science and Technology of Synthetic Metals (ICSM) Virtual Conference 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 410 delegates attended a virtual meeting organised by Professors PJ Skabara and I Samuel on 16-17 June 2021. ICSM is the largest conference devoted to the field of organic electronics and has showcased many of the most important developments in the field over the last 40 years. It is a biennial meeting and the free virtual event was organised as a stop-gap between the last (2018) and next (2022) in-person ICSM meetings, since the 2020 meeting was postponed due to the pandemic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://icsm2022.com/icsm2021-virtual/ |
Description | Organisation of the International Conference on the Science and Technology of Synthetic Metals (ICSM). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The conference took place at the University of Glasgow from 17-22 July 2022 and was Chaired by Prof PJ Skabara (University of Glasgow) with Prof I Samuel (St Andrews) as Deputy Chair. Over 600 participants attended the meeting. ICSM is the largest conference devoted to the field of organic electronics and has showcased many of the most important developments in the field over the last 40 years. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://icsm2022.com/ |
Description | Paul Drude Institute and Technical University Berlin visits, April 2018 by Dr Jochen Bruckbauer, Dr Paul Edwards and Prof Rob Martin, each presenting at both institutes |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Academic presentations to like minded scientific researchers and university staff. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Plessey Semiconductors Ltd visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | An industry visit to dissemante mini-projects and discuss new metrology with potential applications in manufacturing. Interest has been generate in a novel imaging system and discussions on how to progress begun |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | PragmatIC Ltd visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Visit to PragmatIC Ltd to discuss smart pick and place manufacturing for continuous batch assembly, and the opportunity to explore future collaboration ideas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Prof Rob Martin, Lancaster University Dec 2018 to present a colloquium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | academic seminar |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | School visit (Aberdeen) to run a workshop on the science of light |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Approximately 70 final year primary school children attended a workshop on the science of light, conducted by Prof P Skabara and Dr A Klimash. The workshop was hands-on and included demonstrations of technologies not yet on the market (flexible organic optoelectronic devices). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Supporting Ukrainian researchers and students in a live Q&A session with President Zelensky |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Channel 4 and 10 UK universities took part in a videoconference with the President of Ukraine in June 2022, including the University of Glasgow, LSE, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University of London, Coventry University, King's College, University of Manchester, University of Oxford and UCL. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK Vadym Prystaiko was also present. The videoconference was organised in support of Ukrainian researchers and students in the UK over the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Professor PJ Skabara addressed President Zelensky and introduced questions from the Glasgow University Ukrainian Society. The event gave outstanding morale support for Ukrainian academics and students across the UK, including three Ukrainian postdoctoral researchers from Professor Skabara's group who are employed on EPSRC projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jylna8P7Tw |
Description | Visit CPI Sedgefield |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | visit to discuss collaborative opportunities, exchange visits and to update on the progress to date. Planned visit to Glasgow agreed |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | meeting with the local MP Carol Monaghan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A 1 hour meeting with Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West. To raise the profile of the reserach work being conducted and the potential impact for the local and Scottish economy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |