ATLANTA, GA - The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE) and Solvay (Brussels, Belgium) signed a three-year, $3 million deal for OLED research. COPE has developed a unique material platform for OLEDs that may be deposited over large areas by ink-jet printing and patterned using standard photolithography. Georgia Tech researchers have found that exposing the material to ultraviolet light leads to hardened materials that are insoluble and maintain stability under high temperatures. This allows researchers to build a multi-layered solid-state device from liquid materials.
“Solvay’s partnership represents a substantial investment in Georgia Tech and signifies the company’s confidence in Tech’s ability to provide end-to-end resources encompassing modeling, synthesis, fabrication and testing,” said Seth Marder, director of COPE.
The partnership with Georgia Tech further strengthens Solvay’s presence in Georgia, with offices of Solvay Advanced Polymers in Alpharetta and Solvay Pharmaceuticals in Marietta. For Tech, the partnership enhances its already strong international presence and reputation and adds an outlet for successful technology transfer and commercialization of research.
COPE, through the research group of Jean-Luc Bredas, already conducts research activities with the University of Mons-Hainaut in Belgium. Georgia Tech has two international campuses, Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France, and Georgia Tech Singapore.
“The New Business Development division of the Solvay Group was looking worldwide to build a strong knowledge and innovation base in advanced materials for organic electronics," said Léopold Demiddeleer, director of Solvay Corporate R&D and New Business Development. "COPE was right on target, at the right time and at the right location for us. This winning partnership will take advantage of the world-class expertise of COPE and the industrial potential of Solvay. I consider this as the first critical step of a major long-term program for the company."