CBE - Organic Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductor Research

Organic mixed ionic electronic conductors (OMIECs) are polymers (plastics) that efficiently transport and couple both ionic (salt) and electronic charge (electricity). This ionic-electronic coupling enables devices with unique functionality such as energy storage electrodes, synthetic neurons, soft robotics, and electrochromics to name a few applications. Students engaged in this project with broadly study and develop new OMIEC materials and devices with a variety of fabrication and characterization techniques. 

Name of research group, project, or lab
Paulsen Lab
Website
https://engineering.nd.edu/faculty/rev-bryan-d-paulsen-s-j/
Why join this research group or lab?

Students should join this lab if they desire to be part of  a young and energetic team studying cutting edge materials for electronic, biomedical, and energy applications. This project provides the opportunity to learn many fabrication and measurement tools used in research and industry. Adequate progress on this project will ensure co-authorship on papers employing the materials and devices developed.

Logistics Information:
Project categories
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Electrical Engineering
Materials Science & Engineering
Physics & Astronomy
Student ranks applicable
First Year
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

Qualified students will have a willingness to develop hands-on experimental skills in fabrication, characterization, and testing of polymer materials and devices. Being unafraid to make and learn from mistakes is crucial.

Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours
2 credits / 6-12 hours
3 credits / 12+ hours
Compensation
Research for Credit
Paid - General
Paid - Work-Study Required
Number of openings
2
Techniques learned

CAD, laser cutting, high vacuum thermal/e-beam deposition, solution preparation, spin-coating, blade-coating, profilometry, atomic force microscopy, X-ray scattering, UV-Vis spectroscopy, DC current-voltage measurements, AC impedance spectroscopy.

Project start
1/13/2025 (or early if student prefers)
Contact Information:
Mentor
Bryan Paulsen
bpaulse2@nd.edu
Assistant Professor
Name of project director or principal investigator
Bryan Paulsen
Email address of project director or principal investigator
bryanpaulsen@nd.edu
2 sp. | 1 appl.
Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours (+2)
1 credit / 3-6 hours2 credits / 6-12 hours3 credits / 12+ hours
Project categories
Electrical Engineering (+5)
Aerospace and Mechanical EngineeringChemical and Biomolecular EngineeringChemistry and BiochemistryElectrical EngineeringMaterials Science & EngineeringPhysics & Astronomy