Plastic Electronics embodies an approach to future electronics in their broadest sense (including electronic, optoelectronic and photonic structures, devices and systems) that combines the low temperature, versatile manufacturing attributes of plastics with the functional properties of semiconductors and metals. At its heart is the development, processing and application of advanced materials encompassing molecular electronic materials, low temperature processed metals, metal oxides and novel hybrids. As such it constitutes a challenging and far-ranging training ground in tune with the needs of a wide spectrum of industry and academia alike. The general area is widely recognised as a rapidly developing platform technology with the potential to impact on multiple application sectors, including displays, signage and lighting, large area electronics, energy generation and storage, logistics, advertising and brand security, distributed sensing and medical devices. The field is a growth area, nationally and globally and the booming organic (AMOLED) display and printed electronics industries have been leading the way, with the emerging opportunities in the photonics area - i.e. innovative solid-state lighting, solar (photovoltaics), energy storage and management now following. The world-leading, agenda-setting UK academic PE research, much of it sponsored by EPSRC, offers enormous potential that is critical for the development and growth of this UK technology sector. PE scientists are greatly in demand: both upstream for materials, process and equipment development; and downstream for device fabrication and wide-ranging applications innovation. Although this potential is recognised by UK government and industry, PE makes a major contribution to the Advanced Materials theme identified in Science Minister David Willet's 'eight great technologies', growth is severely limited by the shortage of trained scientists and engineers capable of carrying ideas forward to application. This is confirmed by industry experts who argue that a comprehensive training programme is essential to deliver the workforce of scientists and engineers needed to create a sustainable UK PE Industry. The aim of the PE-CDT is to provide necessary training to develop highly skilled scientists and engineers, capable both of leading development and of contributing growth in a variety of aspects; materials-focused innovation, translation and manufacturing. The CDT brings together three leading academic teams in the PE area: the Imperial groups, with expertise in the synthesis, materials processing, characterisation, photonics and device physics, the Oxford team with expertise in ultrafast spectroscopes probes, meso and nano-structured composites, vacuum processing and up scaling as well as the material scientists and polymer technologists at QMUL. This compact consortium encompasses all the disciplines relevant to PE, including materials physics, optoelectronics, physical chemistry, device engineering and modelling, design, synthesis and processing as well as relevant industrial experience. The programme captures the essentially multidisciplinary nature of PE combining the low temperature, versatile manufacturing attributes of plastics with the functional properties of semiconductors and metals. Yet, to meet the needs of the PE industry, it also puts in place a deep understanding of basic science along with a strong emphasis on professional skills and promoting interdisciplinary learning of high quality, ranging across all areas of plastic electronics.

Plastic electronics (PE) refers to the science and engineering of molecular electronic materials (MEMs), notably conjugated polymers, and their applications to areas such as displays, lighting, flexible electronics, solar energy conversion, sensing, and healthcare. The driving force behind PE is the fact that MEMs can be processed from solution, opening up device manufacture schemes using printing/coating processes similar to those used for conventional plastics. Compared to current inorganic-based technologies, this could lead to large reductions in cost and substantial energy savings when applied to the manufacture of solar cells or energy efficient plastic lighting products.Nationally and globally, markets for the first PE products (e.g. OLED displays) are expanding rapidly while large new markets emerge, in both developed and developing countries. Hence, exceptionally high demand exists globally for skilled scientists and engineers at all stages: in materials supply, device design, engineering and manufacture, and printing/coating equipment production.The world-leading, agenda-setting UK academic PE research, much of it sponsored by EPSRC, offers enormous potential for development and growth of this UK technology sector. Although this potential is recognised by UK government and industry, growth is severely limited by the shortage of trained scientists and engineers capable of carrying ideas forward to application. This is confirmed by industry experts who argue that a comprehensive training programme is essential to deliver the workforce of scientists and engineers needed to create a sustainable UK PE Industry.The proposed DTC addresses this need providing the first post-graduate programme focussed on the training of physical science graduates in PE science and technology. The DTC brings together two leading academic teams in the PE area: the ICL groups, with expertise in the physics, chemistry and application of MEMs, and the polymer technologists at QMUL. This compact, London-based consortium encompasses all the disciplines relevant to PE, including materials physics, optoelectronics, physical chemistry, device engineering and modelling, design, synthesis and processing of MEMs as well as relevant industrial experience. Both teams have been strengthened recently, both through new appointments and by expanded or refurbished laboratory space. This investment reflects the strategic intent of ICL and QMUL to foster the PE research area.The proposal aims to devlop an integrated postgraduate training programme, consisting of a one-year M.Res. degree with taught courses on all aspects of MEMs, and a formative research project, followed by a three-year PhD project. Training will continue throughout the four years via short courses in advanced topics, practical training (processing/characterisation techniques), and professional skills training (both generic and discipline specific). Ten students per annum will be supported by the DTC. An additional ten will be supported by project studentships, industrial and other sources to create a critical student mass leading to an output of 100 trained scientists after 8 years. A large fraction of the DTC's interdisciplinary projects will have industrial input, either through placement with partners, through co-supervision or through access to facilities offered by industrial partners. An open call for project proposals will enable new academic and industrial members to interact with the DTC, fostering and enlarging cross-disciplinary collaborations, and enable response of the DTC's research portfolio to the developing scientific and industrial scene.