Organic Electronics  Recent advances in organic electronics have suggested the possibility of fabricating low cost flexible devices with organic-molecular materials. As an example, the polyacene family (consisting of pentacene, tetracene and anthracene) has been shown to have electronic transport properties that are comparable to amorphous silicon. In particular, bulk films of pentacene have been successfully used in field-effect transistors for electronic circuits. In addition to simple electronic devices, the unique properties of molecular materials also suggest the possibility of building sensors for light, chemical or biological hazards. To develop these types of sensors, the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) is assessing the suitability of polyacenes for sensor applications. The LPS is well positioned to investigate the material properties of organic material like pentacene because of in-house capabilities such as nano-imprint lithography/transfer printing, organic MBE, Raman Spectroscopy, novel electron microscopies, as well as a class 100 clean room facility, each enabling the fabrication of prototypical devices. We are currently investigating the modes of operation (active vs. passive), as well as identifying the stimulus and appropriate feedback mechanism, and environmental factors such as humidity, temperature and storage for each particular assembly. |