The aims of the module are: 1. To show students how semiconducting organic molecules and materials can be designed and synthesised for use in a wide range of electronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes, thin film transistors, photovoltaic devices and sensors. 2. To introduce the students to current topics of interest in the field of molecular electronics, the science of incorporating single molecules into electrical circuits.

(LO1) By the end of the module, students should: Be familiar with important structure-property relationships in pi-conjugated materials, and how these relate to their uses as organic semiconductors in different electronic devices. Be aware of synthetic routes to the materials, and how these can limit or control their properties. Be familiar with important parameters used to assess the performance of various organic electronic devices, such as OLEDs, OTFTs and OPVDs. Be aware of current and possible future industrial applications of this new technology. Be aware of concepts underlying experiments to determine the electrical properties of single molecules, and of the significance of these measurements. Be able to read and understand review papers from the literature in these areas.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Self-Directed Learning Description: Consolidation and revision

Introduction and background Introduction to the course. References and where to find them. Structure of the course - use of handouts. Organic semiconducting molecules and materials: 1. Polythiophene, a transistor material Discovery and significance of 'conducting polymers': polyacetylene, and the 2000 Nobel prize in Chemistry. Polythiophenes and polypyrroles - electrodeposition and oxidation as modes of synthesis. More practical materials: how to make soluble polythiophenes. Polythiophenes for organic thin film transistors: synthesis, structural control, ordering in materials, testing and improving organic transistors. Problems: purity and oxygen sensitivity. Attempts to address these. Control of bandgap (and hence, colour) in conjugated polymers, exemplified using polythiophene derivatives: PEDOTs and polybenzo[c]thiophenes; donor-acceptor polymers. Electrochromism. 2. Polyfluorenes and polyphenylenevinylenes: Light-emitting polymer diodes History of polymer light-emittin g diodes PPV and 'precursor' routes to conjugated polymers. Suzuki coupling as a route to polyfluorenes. Colour (bandgap) control in these materials. Current state of the art. Display devices using OLEDs. Commercial products using this technology. 3. Organic photovoltaics How an organic photovoltaic device works, and why it's different from a silicon device. Polythiophenes and C60. C nanotubes and CdS nanorods in conjugated polymers. Possible consequences for cheap, reliable OPVDs. Molecular electronics History: the Aviram-Ratner device. Supramolecular chemistry and molecular electronics. 'Real' molecular electronics": wiring molecules into a circuit, one molecule at a time. How does charge get through a molecule? Characteristics of devices, and issues with molecular electronics.