Lateral patterning of Organic Nanostructures

This project aims to develop lithographic techniques for lateral patterning of polymer layers that preserve the useful semiconductor properties such as photoluminescence and charge transport. The project will focus on so-called ‘soft lithographies’, which take advantage of the peculiar properties of organic semiconductors, namely, solution processability and softening at moderately high temperatures (100-200°C).

The techniques will be used in order to engineer optical feedback in a range of electroluminescent polymer structures spanning from Light-Emitting Diodes, (LEDs) to more sophisticated photonic structures with 2-dimensional, and 3-dimensional optical confinement. Optical and electrical characterisation of the nanostructures will be carried out in order to get further insight into the fundamental photophysics and charge transport processes of this class of non-conventional semiconductors.