AMBER PI Johnny Coleman receives EIC Pathfinder Funding for project HYPERSONIC

10 August 2023

AMBER PI Jonathan Coleman has received funding for his EIC Pathfinder 2023 project (of which he is a partner) HYPERSONIC: High mobilitY Printed nEtwoRks of 2D Semiconductors for advanced electrONICs

HYPERSONIC is a high-risk, high-gain interdisciplinary project exploiting new chemical and physical approaches to minimise RJ in printed nanosheet networks, leading to ultra-cheap printed devices with a performance ×10–100 beyond the SoA. The chemical approach relies on chemical crosslinking of nanosheets with (semi)conducting molecules to boost inter-nanosheet CT. The physical approach involves synthesising high-aspect-ratio nanosheets, leading to low bending rigidity and increased inter-nanosheet interactions, yielding conformal, large-area junctions of >10e4 nm2 to dramatically reduce RJ.

This radical new technology will use a range of n- or p-type nanosheets to achieve printed networks with mobilities of up to 1000 cm2/Vs. A comprehensive electrical characterisation of all nanosheet networks will allow us to not only identify those with ultra-high mobility but also to fully control the relation between basic physics/chemistry and network mobility. We will demonstrate the utility of our technology by using our best-performing networks as complementary field-effect devices in next generation, integrated, wearable sensor arrays. Printed digital and analog circuits will read and amplify sensor signals, demonstrating a potential commercialisable application.

Professor Coleman who is also the Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy (1724) in the School of Physics Trinity College Dublin is a partner in the project with Prof. Paolo Samori from the University of Strasbourg the Coordinator. Other partners include:

• Trinity Business School
• Universiteit Antwerpen Belgium
• University of Cambridge United Kingdom
• Universite de Mons Belgium
• Sentriflex Technology Co. Limited Ireland. A spinout company by Prof Coleman’s former Postdoc Dan O’Driscoll

More about EIC Pathfinder:

With its Pathfinder programme the EIC supports the exploration of bold ideas for radically new technologies. It welcomes the high-risk / high gain and interdisciplinary cutting-edge science collaborations that underpin technological breakthroughs.

Pathfinder goes beyond what is already known. Visionary thinking can open up promising avenues towards powerful new technologies.

Applicants participating in EIC Pathfinder projects are typically visionary scientists and entrepreneurial researchers from universities, research organisations, start-ups, high-tech SMEs or industrial stakeholders interested in technological research and innovation.

Projects typically involve consortia of researchers and other partners from at least three different countries, but there are also opportunities for individual teams and small consortia (two partners).