This discovery has wide ranging commercial possibilities, e.g., the preparation of lightweight, large, multicoloured, flat panel displays for televisions and computer screens is now a realistic possibility. A simple LED consists of a polymer sandwiched between two metal electrodes. The colour of the light is dependent on the HOMO-LUMO energy gap of the polymer. To achieve a full colour display it is necessary to have pure red, green, and blue emission.
Plants make good use of porphyrin based materials in their energy capture.
Solar cells operate in the reverse direction to LEDs, that is, instead of putting charge in and getting light out in this case we put light in and get charge out. Our approach to materials for solar cells is based on nature and uses porphyrins. Opportunities A research student participating in this commercially applicable work has a unique opportunity to gain a wide range of experience, from the complexities of modern organic synthesis and characterisation, through to the unique field of polymer chemistry, as well as the techniques used to measure the physical and electronic properties of materials. The student will also gain experience in an interdisciplinary research field. Soc., Perkin Trans.