Engineering PhD Studentship in Wearable Electronics: Organic electronic devices on textiles

Location: Streatham Campus, University of Exeter, EX4 4QJ

Primary Supervisor: Dr Ana Neves (http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/engineering/staff/an359)

Secondary Supervisor: Prof Monica Craciun (http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/engineering/staff/mfc204)

Project Description:
The development of electronic devices on textiles is attracting great interest and has led to the emergence of the field of e-textiles. These can find an enormous range of applications in several fields, including healthcare and military. With the recent advances in nanotechnology and materials engineering, different functionalities can now be incorporated into textile fibres.

The aim of this multidisciplinary PhD project is to develop new technologies for flexible, transparent, comfortable and easy to carry electronic devices. Different types of devices will be explored, using molecular and organic materials as well as two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms with high conductivity and optical transparency, mechanically strong and chemically stable. Organic materials combine excellent electronic and optical properties with low-temperature and solution processing, and have therefore been used in electronics, namely in OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays, nowadays a conventional technology in our smartphones and home television sets. Different deposition techniques, such as chemical and physical vapour deposition, as well as solution-based processing methods will be explored for all the materials. The remarkable conductive properties of graphene and derivatives will be combined with the excellent semiconducting and dielectric properties of organic materials, in an exciting concept that merges unique properties such as flexibility and optical transparency with remarkable electronic and optical features.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU/International tuition fees in full plus at least £14,296 per year tax-fee stipend. Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit, and are awarded for 3.5 years of full-time study (part-time pro-rata), to commence in January 2017.

Contact for informal enquiries: Dr Ana Neves [Email Address Removed]

Application criteria:
Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in Materials Science, Physics or aligned Engineering Discipline, such as Electronic Engineering. It would be beneficial if applicants have had experience in Organic Electronics.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide a proof of proficiency. For more information and a list of acceptable alternative tests go to http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/