The Center of Organic electronics (COE) is active in three areas: organic nanoelectronics (ONE), printed organic electronics (TOE) and organic optoelectronics (THREE), all utilizing organic polymers and molecules for creating electronic functions. COE spans from polymer synthesis to electronic design via theory, spectroscopy and device physics.
The first 9 months of COE have been dominated by rapid progress in the field of electrochemical devices printed on paper (TOE). Integration of the simulation activity with device manufacturing and characterisation has led to demonstration of a full family of logic functions, from NOR, NAND to oscillators.
Organic nanoelectronics (ONE) is the most novel activity, where an important development is the novel polymer diode concepts, where photochromic molecules are incorporated in conjugated polymer layers, and where bulk transport in polymer diodes can be strongly modulated by switching the photochromic molecules by light.
The pre-existing network of collaboration has been very advantageous for THREE, as materials are available for device work from day one. Solar cells of 3% energy efficiency in AM1.5 are now routine. Novel polymers extend the absorption out to 950 nm. Interface properties at electrodes in solar cells have been mapped. Device activities within COE are focused on light-trapping, and soft lithographic building methods are being adapted to make all black plastic solar cells. Modelling of electrical transport in polymer diodes and photodiodes has progressed to the point of a full model.