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Semiconducting Polymers for Multidisciplinary Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

David Braun
Affiliation:
Electrical Engineering Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, U.S.A.
Kevin Kingsbury
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, U.S.A.
Linda Vanasupa
Affiliation:
Materials Engineering Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, U.S.A.
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Abstract

Cal Poly is in the process of revolutionizing how science and engineering students learn about semiconducting materials. Semiconducting polymers currently attract widespread attention as the subjects of numerous research and development projects. Semiconducting polymers are also excellent materials with which to teach structure-property relationships, polymer synthesis, polymer film preparation, optical and electronic properties, semiconductor device fabrication principles, and device testing.

One key benefit of these materials is that they encourage student participation in educational activities that bridge several disciplines. Semiconducting polymers improve student learning by making normally obscure semiconductor concepts more tangible for students in several disciplines: chemistry students create electronics applications for the compounds they synthesize, materials engineering students learn about opto-electronics techniques, and electrical engineering students gain hands-on experience with core concepts in semiconductor devices.

This presentation describes the interdisciplinary projects that students and faculty have participated in thus far, particularly during the phase of lab design and construction.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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