PhD student - UV patterning of conducting polymer optoelectronic components

We are looking for a PhD student in Applied Physics to join our team within Printed, Bio- and Organic Electronics in Norrköping, Sweden.

As one of the most renowned research institutes within the field of Printed Electronics, we offer an attractive workplace in modern premises, in which you will be an important part of the team in the development of novel optoelectronic components based on organic materials. If you think this is exciting, and if you want to participate in a collaboration between research institutes, academia and industry, then you might be the candidate we are looking for!

Project focus
Conjugated polymers are a group of materials that conduct electricity. This property has made them the main building blocks in the field of organic and printed electronics. Many such conducting polymers exhibit electrochromism: the ability of a material to change its color and electrical conductivity upon a change in its redox state. This has made them popular for use in energy-efficient reflective displays and indicators in sensor platforms, but also in organic transistors, sensors, and energy storage devices due to the modulation in charge concentration upon doping/de-doping.

Recently, we developed a new technique for patterning conducting polymers by UV-light in combination with vapor phase polymerization (VPP). By exposure through a photomask, this unique method enables spatial control of properties such as thickness, conductivity, complex refractive index and absorption of the polymer. We have previously demonstrated the technique for production of high-resolution and structurally colored electrochromic displays. In this project, we will further explore the possibilities of this UV-VPP method as a novel and scalable approach to achieve different kinds of tunable optoelectronic components, for example multi-colored electrochromic displays.

Infrastructure
The project will be performed in Norrköping, Sweden, at the joint laboratory facilities of Linköping University (LiU) and Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). The premises provide all equipment needed for the project, including cleanroom and chemistry labs for polymer processing, deposition, etching, patterning, characterization, etc.  We also have available a dedicated photonics lab for more detailed optical characterization. Furthermore, our facilities comprise the Printed Electronics Arena (PEA), which is a fully equipped printing lab including a pilot line for Printed Electronics. Besides equipment for optical and electrical characterization of printed electronic layers and devices, PEA is also equipped with screen, ink jet and aerosol jet printing, various systems for curing of printed inks, a recently developed setup for large-area VPP, and a laser tool for cutting and ablation. The project will also benefit from collaboration with Mycronic, a Swedish high-tech company that is in the forefront in the development of equipment for advanced patterning of functional materials.

Who are you?
The anticipated research activities turn this into a multidisciplinary project, involving physics, chemistry and electronics. First and foremost, we are therefore looking for a PhD candidate that is eager to explore new materials, optoelectronics concepts, device architectures, manufacturing techniques and characterization methods. The candidate must have a Masters´ degree in physics, materials science, chemistry, or similar area, when starting the position.

Terms of employment
The candidate will be employed by RISE (unit: Bio- and Organic Electronics) in Norrköping and enrolled as PhD student at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE) at LiU. The employment has a duration of four years´ full time equivalent and may be extended to a maximum of five years depending on the ratio between PhD research activities and other duties. At RISE, the research activities will be conducted under supervision of Dr. Peter Andersson Ersman, Dr. Jesper Edberg and Dr. Robert Brooke, all experienced within the research fields of organic, printed and flexible electronics. At LiU, Prof. Magnus Jonsson will be the supervisor, who is leading the group of Organic Photonics and Nanooptics at LOE.

You will attend courses (30-60 ECTS) and be guided to strengthen your communication, management, and decision-making skills. You will be able to attend national and international conferences and participate in all academic activities at LOE, including seminars, presentations, and group activities.

Welcome with your application!
The application must be received via our e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 12th of June, 2022. Include the following in your application: CV, short letter of interest, copy of Masters’ thesis, attested copies of Masters’ degree diploma and transcript of academic records (classes taken, grades and any other certificates). Directions for the letter of interest: introduce yourself, describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (for example education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities), and describe your future goals and desired long term research focus. International applications are welcome. Applications without the required documents will be discarded.

Please contact us if you have any questions or want to know more about the recruitment process Ursula Hass, +46 10 228 42 74 or the technology, Peter Andersson Ersman, +46 10 228 42 01.

Our union representatives are Lazaros Tsantaridis, Sveriges Ingenjörer (SACO), +46 10 516 62 21 and Daniel Gäwerth, Unionen, +46 10 516 68 15.

We kindly ask external recruitment companies and salespeople not to contact us as we are governed by the Swedish Procurement Act.

PhD student, Printed electronics, Organic Electronics, Optoelectronic, Conducting polymers, RISE, Norrköping, Sweden