Date: January 29, 2009
Time: -
Location: Friend Center Convocation Room
Meeting the energy needs of the world’s growing population in an environmentally and geopolitically sustainable fashion is the most important scientific and technological challenge facing society today. Within this challenge exists a unique opportunity to provide efficient generation, storage, and use of energy through the application of organic/hybrid electronics and photonics. Successfully deploying these emerging technologies effectively will be an important strategy for the alleviation of global warming.
This talk highlights the molecular design, self-assembly, morphological control, and interface engineering approaches used to achieve high-performance polymer photovoltaic cells, light-emitting diodes (for solid-state lighting), and integrated electro-optic devices.
About the Speaker
Alex K-Y. Jen
Boeing/Johnson Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Institute of Advanced Materials & Technology
Alex Jen is the Boeing/Johnson Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Institute of Advanced Materials and Technology, and Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Washington.
Jen obtained his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984. His research interests are in the areas of photonics, optoelectronics, bio-sensing, and nanoscience technologies – areas that will greatly reduce the dependence on burning fossil fuels and in turn significantly reduce the CO2 emissions.
Jen is the author of more than 400 publications and holds 45 patents. Prior to joining the University of Washington, he was a research scientist with Allied Signal (1984-1988); principal scientist and then senior scientist at EniChem America (1988-94); vice president of the Optical Materials Division, ROI Technology (1995-96); and associate professor of chemistry at Northeastern University (1997-1999).
Jen is a Fellow of the International Society for Optical Engineering, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Optical Society of America, and holds the Changjiang Endowed Chair Professorship from China’s Ministry of Education. Jen also is the recipient of the Faculty Research Innovator Award from the University of Washington’s College of Engineering, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Chemistry of the Academia Sinica, in Taiwan.