Prof. Thomas D. Anthopoulos
University of Manchester, UK

Organic semiconductors offer numerous attractive characteristics that push the frontiers of semiconductor technology and promise to expand their use far beyond flat panel displays. Examples include printed electronics, photovoltaics, and sensors for a plethora of existing and emerging applications. A notable example is printable photovoltaics, which combine low-cost manufacturing with truly green energy generation, paving the way for a healthier, carbon-free future. Other important applications are optoelectronics and sensors, which promise to ease our reliance on polluting inorganic technologies by developing greener products. Despite the enticing possibilities that organic semiconductors have to offer, numerous technology bottlenecks remain.

In this talk, I will present our recent work on organic photovoltaics and hydrogen sensors and describe our efforts to advance their performance and reliability. In the first part of my talk, I will present our latest research aimed at pushing the efficiency of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) to over 20%. I will show how the use of innovative charge-extracting interlayers can enhance the overall performance of the cells, as well as their operating lifetime. I will highlight our recent work in utilizing antireflection coatings and molecular dopants to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and show how their combination with innovative interlayers and appropriate cell structures can improve material utilization and device sustainability, all while delivering record PCE.

The second part of my talk will focus on our latest work on hydrogen sensors - a key safety technology for the emerging hydrogen industries. I will describe the development of a novel hydrogen sensor technology based on organic semiconductors as the active materials. Emphasis will be placed on the sensing mechanism and the prospects for further development. The new organic hydrogen sensor exhibits high sensitivity and responsivity, ultra-low power consumption, and record-short response times. Compared to commercial detector technologies, our organic hydrogen detectors exhibit superior performance under various real-world sensing scenarios, making the technology a strong candidate for broad applications, including early warning of hydrogen leaks and prevention of potential explosions or fires.