BCHES102-202

MODULE 2 : Materials For Memory and Display

system

Memory Devices : Introduction, Basic concepts of electronic

memory, History of Organic/
polymer electronic memory devices,
Classification of electronic memory devices,
types of organic memory devices(organicmolecules,
polymeric materials,organic in organic hybrid materials).

Display system: Photoactive and electroactive materials,

Nanomaterialsandorganicmaterials used In optoelectronic
devices. Liquid crystals (LC’s) – Introduction,
classification,properties and Application in Liquid Crystal
Displays (LCD’s). Properties and application ofOrganic
Light Emitting Diodes (OLED’s) and Quantum Light
Emitting Diodes (QLED’s),
Light emitting electrochemical cells.
1 What are Memory Devices? Explain the Classification of electronic memory devices with examples
A memory device is a piece of hardware made of semiconducting materials used to store data.
Example: CD, DVD, USB and external hard disc.
Classification of Memory Devices:
1. Transistor-Type Electronic Memory
2. Capacitor-Type Electronic Memory
3. Resistor-Type Electronic Memory
4. Charge Transfer Effects
1. Transistor-Type Electronic Memory:
A transistor is a miniature electronic component that can work either as an amplifier or a switch. A
computer memory chip consists of billions of transistors, each transistor is working as a switch, which
can be switched ON or OFF. Each transistor can be in two different states and store two different numbers,
ZERO and ONE. Since chip is made of billions of such transistors and can store billions of Zeros and
Ones, and almost every number and letter can be stored.

2. Capacitor-Type Electronic Memory

A capacitor consists of two metal plates which are capable of storing an
electric charge. It is like a battery that holds data based on energy.
If the capacitor is charged, it holds the binary numeral,”1” and holds “0’
when the cell is discharged.
If the parallel plates of a capacitor are separated by dielectric layer,
charges dissipate slowly and memory would be volatile.
On the other hand, if the medium between the electrodes is ferroelectric
in nature, can maintain permanent electric polarization that can be
repeatedly switched between two stable states (bistable) by an external
electric field. Thus, memory based on ferroelectric capacitors (FeRAM)
is non-volatile memory.

3. Resistor-Type Electronic Memory

Memory devices containing switchable resistive materials are classified

as resistor-type memory, or resistive random access memory (RRAM).
Resistor-type electronic memory usually has a simple structure, having
a metal-insulator-metal structure generally referred to as MIM structure.
The structure comprises of an insulating layer (I) sandwiched between
the two metal (M) electrodes and supported on a substrate (glass, silicon
wafer, plastic or metal foil).
Initially, the device is under high resistance state or “OFF” and logically
“0” state, when resistance changed or under external applied field
changes to low resistance state or “ON” logical value “1”.
 4. Charge Transfer Effects
A charge transfer (CT) complex is defined as an electron donor–acceptor (D–A) complex, characterized
by an electronic transition to an excited state in which a partial transfer of charge occurs from the donor
moiety to the acceptor moiety. The conductivity of a CT complex is dependent on the ionic binding
between the D–A components.

If the donor has intermediate size and ionization potential, it tends to form a weakly ionic salt with the
acceptor, which possesses incomplete CT (0.4 < δ < 0.7) and thus is potentially conductive.

2. Explain the types of organic memory devices by taking p- type and n-type semiconducting
materials.
Organic electronic memory device uses organic semiconductors and stores data based on different
electrical conductivity states (ON and OFF states) in response to an applied electric field.
The p-Type Organic Semiconductor Material “Pentacene”
An Organic molecule with π conjugated system and possess holes as major charge carrier is called p-type
semiconductor.
Example: Pentacene

When a positive voltage was applied between gate and source, it was found no flow of electrons to drain
due to higher energy gap between the Fermi level of gold (source) and LUMO of Pentacene. On the other
hand, when a negative voltage is applied between the drain and source, holes are induced at source. This
permits a channel of charges (holes) to drain through semiconductor and insulator interface when a
secondary voltage is applied. Therefore it called as P-type semiconductor
The n-type organic semiconducting material Perfluoropentacene
An Organic molecule with π conjugated system with electron withdrawing substituent groups and possess
electrons as major charge carrier is called n-type semiconductor.
 In Pentacene, when hydrogen atoms are substituted by highly
electronegative fluorine atoms, it is called Perfluoropentacene and acts
as N-type of semiconductor. When a positive voltage is applied between
source and drain, electrons are induced in the source (gold).This
permits the channel of charges to drain through semiconductor-insulator
interface as the bandgap between Fermi level of gold (source) LUMO
energy of Perfluoropentacene is 1.95ev which is lesser than LUMO
energy of Pentacene. Therefore, it is n-type semiconductor.

3 Define photoactive and electroactive materials and write their working principle in display system.
Photoactive and electro active organic materials are the semiconductors composed of of π-electron
systems which are used in electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Working Principle
Photoactive and electroactive material absorb and emit light in the UV to IR region. Display system
(OLED) consisting of photoactive and electroactive material absorb light and allows an electron to jump
from HOMO of a Donor to LUMO of an Acceptor. This phenomenon generate and transport charge
carriers.

When electrons move from cathode, anode allows

movement of holes towards light emitting layer under an
applied field. Electron-hole pairs are created at the Light-
Emitting-Layer and energy is released due to
recombination. This energy is sufficient to excite an
electron from HOMO to LUMO in the light emitting layer
made of photoactive and electroactive materials. There is a
re-emission of light while electron is returning to HOMO
level. This light is extracted by a transparent substrate
placed adjacent to either of the electrode.

4 What are nanomaterials? Explain any four properties and applications of Polythiophenes (P3HT)
suitable for optoelectronic devices.
Any substance in which at least one dimension is less than 100nm is called nanomaterials.
The properties of nanomaterials are different from bulk materials due to:
1. Quantum Confinement effect
2. Increased surface area to volume ratio
Polythiophenes are conjugated polymers, environmentally and thermally stable material. Chemical
structure of P3HT Poly (3-hexylthiophene) is a polymer with chemical formula (C10H14S)n. It is a
polythiophene with a short alkyl group on each repeat unit. Highly ordered (P3HT) are composed of
closely packed, p–p stacked (p–p distance of 0.33 nm).
 The improved electronic properties yielded for nanostructured P3HT suitable for
Structure of P3HT optoelectronic devices are listed as follows:
1. P3HT is a semiconducting polymer with high stability and exhibits
conductivity due to holes therefore considered as p-type semiconductor.
2. Poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) have great capability as light-absorbing
materials in organic electronic devices.
3. P3HT has a crystalline structure and good charge-transport properties required
for Optoelectronics.
4. P3HT has a direct-allowed optical transition with a fundamental energy gap of
2.14 eV.
5. Fundamental bandgap of P3HT is 490nm visible region, corresponding to π
→π* transition, giving electron-hole pair.
Applications:
1. P3HT-ITO forms a p-n junction permit the charge carriers to move in opposite direction and hence,
used in Photovoltaic devices.
2. It can be used as a positive electrode in Lithium batteries.
3. Used in the construction of Organic Solar Cells.
4. Manufacture of smart windows.
5.
6. Used in the fabrication new types of memory devices.

5 What is QLED? Mention any four properties and applications of QLED.

Quantum dot light emitting diodes are a form of light emitting devices consisting of nano-scale crystals
that can convert light energy into electrical energy or vice-versa.
Properties of QLED
1. QLEDs are capable of producing highly accurate and vibrant colors due to their use of quantum dots.
2. QLEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional LCD displays because they do not require as much
backlighting.
3. QLED displays have high contrast ratios and produce more detailed and lifelike images.
4. QLEDs have a longer lifespan than traditional LCD displays because they do not suffer from the same
issues of backlight burnout or color fading over time.
Applications of QLED
1. QLED displays are commonly used in televisions, monitors, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
2. QLEDs can also be used as a source of lighting in various applications, including automotive lighting,
street lighting, and architectural lighting.
3. QLEDs can be used in medical imaging applications, such as in MRI machines, to produce high-
resolution and accurate images.
 4. QLED displays can be used in advertising displays, such as digital billboards and signage, to produce
high-quality and eye-catching visuals.

6 Explain the classification of liquid crystals. Mention any four properties and applications of liquid
crystals.
The liquid crystals are a unique state of matter between solid (crystalline) and liquid (isotropic) phases.

i) Thermo tropic liquid crystal

A liquid crystal is said to be thermo tropic if molecular orientation is dependent on the temperature.
Example:

a) Nematic (or thread-like liquid crystals) : The molecules move either sideways or up and down.
Increase in temperature decreases the degree of orientation.
Example: p-azoxyphenetole
b) Smectic (or soap-like liquid crystals): The molecules in smectic crystals are oriented parallel to
each other as in the nematic phase but in layers.

c) Cholesteric liquid crystals: Molecules in successive layers are slightly twisted and form helical
pattern.
d) Discotic liquid crystal: Molecules are arranged in a column arranged with disc like structure.
2) Lyotropic liquid crystals: The orientational behaviour of Lyotropic crystals is a function of
concentration and solvent. These molecules are amphiphilic – they have both hydrophilic and
hydrophobic ends in their molecules. At low concentrations, molecules are randomly arranged and higher
concentration produces a definite pattern heads out and tail in. Soaps and detergents form Lyotropic
crystals when they combine with water
 Properties of liquid crystals
1. They exhibit optical anisotropy which is defined as the difference between refractive index parallel to
the director and refractive index perpendicular to the director.
2. The intermolecular forces are rather weak and can be perturbed by an applied electric field.
3. They interact with an electric field, which causes them to change their orientation slightly.
4. Liquid Crystal can flow like a liquid, due to loss of positional order.

Applications of liquid crystals

1. The liquid crystal layer in LCDs allows for the display of images and text through the use of
electrical currents that control the orientation of the crystals.
2. Liquid crystal sensors are used in various applications such as temperature sensing, humidity
sensing, and chemical sensing.
3. Liquid crystals are used in various optical devices such as variable optical attenuators, phase
shifters, and tunable filters. These devices are used in optical communication systems, spectroscopy,
and imaging.
4. Liquid crystals have been used in drug delivery systems, where the drug is encapsulated in the liquid
crystal matrix and delivered to specific target cells.

7 Discuss the working of Liquid Crystal Display.

Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) consist of multiple layers. Light produced by a light-emitting diode passes
through polarizing filters, color filters, and a liquid-crystal layer to produce an image.
The basic working principle of LCD is blocking of light. When the external light passes from one
polarizer to the next polarizer, external supply is given to the liquid crystal, the polarized light aligns itself
so that the image is produced in the screen.
The indium oxide conducting surface is a transparent layer which is placed on both the sides of the sealed
thick layer of liquid crystal. When no external bias is applied the molecular arrangement is not disturbed.

When the external bias is applied the molecular arrangement is disturbed and that area looks dark and the
other area looks clear. In the segment arrangement, the conducting segment looks dark and the other
segment looks clear. To display number 2 the segments A,B,G,E,D are energized.
The LCD can display images in colour by using filters that absorb different colours of light. First, a white
light-emitting diode shines light toward the front of the display, generating each pixel. The pixels actually
 consist of three sub pixels, one for each color—red, blue, and green. These sub pixels are made up of a
liquid-crystal layer and the appropriate color filter sandwiched between two polarizing light filters.
Transistor arrays switch the structural states of the liquid crystals to control whether or not a sub pixel
gets lit up, which in turn produces all the colors in an image.

8 Explain any four properties and applications of Light emitting materials - Poly[9-vinylcarbazole]
(PVK)] suitable for optoelectronic devices.
Poly (N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) is a polymers and
an efficient hole transport material to prepare highly
efficient and stable planar heterojunction
perovskite solar cells.

Properties of PVK Applications

1. It is a semiconducting polymer and an electron 1. PVK is used in OLEDs for light harvesting
acceptor converts ultra-violet (UV) light into applications.
electricity. 2. Used in the fabrication of light-emitting diodes
2. PVK has a band gap of 3.4 eV, optical and laser printers.
absorption edge stating at 350 nm capable of 3. Used in the fabrication of organic solar cells
absorbing Ultra-Violet light. when combined with TIO on glass substrate.
3. The PVK film is hydrophobic, thermally stable 4. Used in the fabrication of solar cells when
with a relatively high glass transition combined with Perovskite materials.
temperature (Tg) of 200 °C 5. PVK-Perovskite junction is used in Light-
4. The PVK solution also showed good wettability, Emitting Diodes with Enhanced Efficiency and
and provide uniform thin films on glass/ITO Stability.
substrates.

9 Discuss the use of Polyimide Polymeric material for Organic memory device.
Organic polymer used for polymer used for
organic memory device is Polyimide with Donor-
Triphenylamine and Acceptor- phthalimide.

Donor: Triphenyl Amine group (TPA)

Acceptor: Phthalimide group
Hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F): Increases the
solubility of PI

The donors and acceptors of PIs contribute to the

electronic transition based on an induced charge
transfer (CT) effect under an applied electric field.
 1. When an electric field more than threshold
energy is applied, the electrons of the HOMO
(TPA unit) is excited to LUMO.
2. The energy of LUMO of donor and acceptor are
similar and therefore, after excitation the
electron transferred to LUMO (acceptor),
generating a CT state. 3. This permits the generation of holes in the
HOMO, which produces the open channel for the
charge carriers to migrate through.
4. Therefore, Field-induced charge transfer from
Triphenylamine to Phthalimide exhibit the
switching behavior (bistable states ON/OFF).

10 Define Optoelectronic device. Explain the working principle of Optoelectronic device.

A hardware device that converts electrical energy into light and light into energy through semiconductors
is called Optoelectronic device. Optoelectronic devices are primarily transducers i.e. they can convert one
energy form to another.
Working principle

If the photon has an energy larger than the energy a gap, the photon will be absorbed by the semiconductor,
exciting an electron from the valence band into the conduction band, where it is free to move. A free hole
is left behind in the valence band. When the excited electron is returning to valence band, extra photon
energy is emitted in the form a light. This principle is used in Optoelectronic devices.

11 Write the properties and applications of Silicon Nano Crystals for Optoelectronic devices

Properties of Silicon Nanocrystals for optoelectronics

1. Silicon Nano crystal has wider bandgap energy due to quantum confinement.
2. Si NCs shows higher light emission property (Photoluminescence)
3. Si NCs exhibit quantum yield of more than 60%.
4. Si-NCs exhibit tunable electronic structure
 Applications:
1. Si NCs are used in neuromorphic computing and down-shifting in photovoltaics
2. Si NCs are used in the construction of novel solar cells, photodetectors and optoelectronic synaptic
devices.

12 What is OLED? Mention any four properties and applications of OLED.

“OLEDs are thin film devices consisting of a stack of organic layers sandwiched between two electrodes.
OLEDs operate by converting electrical current into light via an organic emitter”.
Properties of OLED
1. OLEDs are very thin and flexible, which makes them suitable for use in curved or flexible displays.
2. OLEDs have a high contrast ratio, and produce images with vivid and rich colours.
3. OLEDs have a fast response time, resulting in smooth and seamless motion in video content.
4. OLEDs have a wide viewing angle, and image quality is maintained even when viewed from
different angles.
5. OLEDs are energy efficient, as they do not require a backlight like traditional LCD displays.

Applications of QLED
5. QLED displays are commonly used in televisions, monitors, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
6. QLEDs can also be used as a source of lighting in various applications, including automotive lighting,
street lighting, and architectural lighting.
7. QLEDs can be used in medical imaging applications, such as in MRI machines, to produce high-
resolution and accurate images.
QLED displays can be used in advertising displays, such as digital billboards and signage, to produce
high-quality and eye-catching visuals.