| Start Date: | 10/8/2013 | Start Time: | 9:30 AM |
| End Date: | 10/8/2013 | End Time: | 11:00 AM |
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Event Description
Title: Electrical Percolation of Carbon Allotropes in Conductive Polymer Media
Advisor: Dr. Adam Fontecchio
Abstract
While there exists large bodies of research concerning the electrical percolation of carbon-based additives in non-conductive polymeric materials, there is little reported work on the nature of percolative composites using conducting polymer systems. This dissertation seeks to add to the current state-of-the-art in conductive organic composites by presenting the fabrication, empirical characterization, theoretical modeling, and prototype applications of carbon allotrope/inherently conductive composite systems. Four composite systems of carbon black (CB), onion-like carbon (OLC), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and graphitic nanoplatelets (GNP) as a percolative filler in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), are fabricated and electrically characterized. The critical behavior of each system is treated empirically, and the transport behavior of the systems is modeled using Variable Range Hopping theory.
Two prototypes demonstrating applications in electrode materials for OLC/PEDOT:PSS composites are demonstrated: The first prototype electrode in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices demonstrates that OLC additive improves device efficiency from 1.8 to 2.1%. The second prototype demonstrates that two-fiber polymer light emitting diodes can be created with OLC/PEDOT:PSS composites. An extension of this work into multi-pixel knit fabric displays is proposed. The broader impacts of this work within the engineering educational community is also explored. |
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Location:
Bossone Research Enterprise Center Room 302 |
Audience:
Current StudentsFacultyStaff |
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