Tuesday, 04 February 2025 at Noon | 490 Cory Hall
Watch the seminar recording here.
Dr. Kenjiro Fukuda
Senior Research Scientist, Center for Emergent Matter Science
RIKEN
Host: Jon Candelaria
ABSTRACT
Extreme thinness can reduce the weight of electronics, which dramatically reduces discomfort when wearing. Furthermore, it also improves their mechanical robustness to bending because applied strain is determined by the material's softness and device thickness. In the simplified model, the film thickness is inversely proportional to the strain value, such that a thinner thickness means that the device experiences less strain for the same bending radius [1]. Furthermore, intrinsically stretchability enables attachment onto movable parts such as body joints. These advantages have inspired research into ultra-thin and stretchable organic solar cells and related integrated electronics.
We are focusing on improving both power conversion efficiency (PCE) and environmental stability of flexible/stretchable organic solar cells. We achieved waterproof and high-performance ultrathin organic solar cells that can be operated underwater [1]. An innovation in the structures enabled much improved water stability of flexible organic solar cells. Additionally, we developed a self-powered wearable sensor by integrating all-solution processed trilayer structure with organic optoelectronics [2]. With such ultrathin organic solar cells, we enabled rechargeable wearable electronic systems for living small insects using ultra-thin organic solar cells [3]. The ultimate thinness and lightweight properties enable secured basic motion abilities of insects even with our solar cell modules attached to their abdominal surface.
Reference:
[1] S. Xiong et al., Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 681.
[2] L. Sun, Sci. Adv., 2024, 10, eadk9460.
[3] Y. Kakei et al., npj Flex. Electron., 2022, 6, 78.
BIO
Kenjiro Fukuda received his Ph.D. from the Department of Applied Physics at the University of Tokyo in 2011. From 2011 to 2015, he worked at Yamagata University as an assistant professor, and then joined RIKEN, where he is currently a Senior research scientist in the thin-film device laboratory and emergent soft system research team, Center for Emergent Matter Science. From 2014 to 2018, he has also been a PRESTO researcher of the Japan Science and Technology Agency. His current research interests include organic transistors, flexible electronics, and printed electronics.
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