Organic Electroactive Materials Larry Dalton, University of Washington, DMR-0092380

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Organic Electroactive MaterialsLarry Dalton,
University of Washington, DMR-0092380
Quantum and statistical mechanical calculations
have guided the design and synthesis of novel
electro-optic (EO) materials exhibiting EO
activity greater than 400 pm/V. These materials
permit the fabrication of a wide range of low
drive voltage (low power consumption), high
bandwidth devices. Conformal and flexible
devices have been produced. The production of
devices by soft lithography (printing) has been
demonstrated as has the direct integration with
silicon photonic circuitry and VLSI electronics.
The accompanying figure shows the relationship of
EO activity to chromophore shape. Discotic
chromophores lead to inter-molecular interactions
augmenting poling-induced order (shaded area).
Theory has guided the development of single and
multi-chromophore-containing dendrimers.
EO activity (? Loading Parameter) vs. ND
Region of Order Enhancement
Statistical mechanical computations indicate that
an oblate ellipsoidal chromophore shape (2-to-1
molecular axis ratio) leads to optimum EO
activity.
Research recognized by 2003 American Chemical
Society Chemistry of Materials Award
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Organic Electroactive MaterialsLarry Dalton,
University of Washington, DMR-0092380
Education Educational activities related to this
program include, in addition to the training of
graduate and undergraduate students, lectures at
the NSF-sponsored workshop on sensor science
technology at Alabama AM, the NASA Space Grant
REU program at UW, the Frontiers in Nanotechology
Course (a core course in the Nanotechnology Ph.D.
program) at UW, a tutorial at the AAAS 2004
annual meeting, REU lectures at UW in the summers
of 2004 and 2005, and general education lectures
at UW. Prof. Dalton worked with Norfolk State
University on the planning and implementation of
their new Ph.D. program on Advanced Materials
Science and Engineering. (Prof. Dalton received a
Quality Education for Minorities/Mathematics,
Science, and Engineering Network 2005 Giants in
Science Award)
Knowledge Technology Transfer Chapters in
Encyclopedia of Modern Optics and Kirk-Othmer
Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Edited
special issue of the Journal of Physical
Chemistry. Eastman Lecture at the University of
Akron. Special symposia at GE Global Research
and Intel. Organized AAAS Symposium on 21st
Century Photonics.
Impact Intellectual property generated by Dalton
research was the basis of formation of Lumera (a
publicly traded corporation, NASDAQ symbol LMRA).
Research also simulated new RD at Boeing, Intel,
and Lockheed Martin and other corporations.
Research led to new DARPA MORPH and CS-WDM
programs and to other Federal RD programs.
Dalton co-founds the Center for Technology
Entrepreneurship at UW.