Staff profiles

Thin Films and Displays Research Group

Research fellows:

• Dr Costas Tsakonas

Research students:

• Neranga Abeywickrama
• Khairi Abusabee
• Carly Farrow
• Patrick Merritt

Areas of research include materials and device engineering of thin film materials for displays; laser processing of thin films for flexible electronics and displays; and development of virtual environments.

• Materials and device engineering of thin film materials for displays: Work has involved the development of inorganic emissive display devices based on laterally emitting thin film electroluminescent device structures. Microstructure and materials engineering is used to optimise the electro-optical performance of electroluminescent displays for use in near-to-eye and direct view sunlight readable applications.
• Laser processing of thin films for flexible electronics and displays: A major success has been an investigation into the use of excimer laser processing of thin film phosphors for enhanced visual performance. Recent work is concerned with the application of excimer laser processing to modify display materials deposited by ink-jet printing onto low temperature flexible substrates. Materials of interest include nanoparticulate based metal oxide transparent conductors and dielectric thin films.
• Development of virtual environments: Examining the development of virtual environments with application for inclusive access. Work is also concerned with the use of 3D environments for the development of eLearning packages.

Selected Publications

• Laser annealing of thin film electroluminescent devices deposited at a high rate using high target utilization sputtering . Wakeham, S. J.; Tsakonas, C.; Cranton, W. M.; Thwaites, M. J.; Boutaud, G.; Koutsogeorgis, D. C.; Semiconductor Science and Technology, 26,4 (2011) 045016
• Low temperature remote plasma sputtering of indium tin oxide for flexible display applications . Wakeham, S. J.; Thwaites, M. J.; Holton, B. W.; Tsakonas, C.; Cranton, W. M.; Koutsogeorgis, D. C.; Ranson, R., Thin Solid Films, 518, 4 (2009) 1355
• Temperature dependent characteristics of La2O2S: Ln [Ln = Eu,Tb] with various Ln concentrations over 5-60 ºC. Yap S V, Ranson R M, Cranton W M, Koutsogeorgis D C and Hix G B, Journal of Luminescence, 2009, 129 (5), 416-422
• Performance enhancement of ZnS:Mn thin film electro luminescent devices by combination of laser and thermal annealing. Koutsogeorgis D, Cranton W, Ranson R and Thomas C, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2009, 483 (1-2), 526-529.
• A new reactive sputtering technique for the low temperature deposition of transparent light emitting ZnS:Mn thin films. Wakeham S J, Thwaites M J, Tsakonas C, Cranton W M, Ranson R and Koutsogeorgis DC. In: European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) Spring Meeting, Strasbourg, 2009, 6.
• Decay time characteristics of La2O2S:Eu and La2O2S:Tb for use within an optical sensor for human skin temperature measurement. Yap S V, Ranson, R M, Cranton W M and Koutsogeorgis D. Applied Optics, 2008, 47 (27), 4895-4899
• Excimer laser processing of inkjet-printed and sputter-deposited transparent conducting SnO2:Sb for flexible electronics. Cranton W, Wilson S L, Ranson R M, Koutsogeorgis D C, Chi K, Hedgley R, Scott J, Lipiec S, Spiller A and Speakman S. Thin Solid Films, 2007, 515 (24), 8534-8538.
• Laterally emitting thin film electroluminescent device engineering for sunlight readable vehicular displays. Cranton W M, Stevens R, Koutsogeorgis D, Ranson R, Needham A, Thorne M and Magon A. In: Society For Information Display (SID) Vehicles and Photons, 14th Annual Symposium on Vehicle Displays, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan, United States, 2007, 10, 27.

Current and recent research is being conducted with the collaboration, funding and/or support of:

• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
• The Technology Strategy Board
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
• Ultra Electronics Ltd
• Keeling and Walker Ltd
• Plasma Quest Ltd
• Filtrona Plc
• Micro-Nano Technology Centre, STFC
• Extec Ltd.
• Qudos Ltd.
• Brunel University
• Printed Electronics Ltd

Research funding in the period since 2000 includes:

• KTP Filtrona, W. Cranton, R. Ranson and G. Hix (2010 - 2013), £195,000.
• Fabrication of complex 3D structures using direct writing and laser annealing (Fab3D), W M Cranton, Technology Programme (2008 to 2011), $67,265.
• High efficiency solid state light sources depostied by HITUS, W Cranton, EPSRC/DTI Technology Programme (2007 to 2009), £310,181.
• Printable light emitting presentation product, W M Cranton, KTP to Easibind International (2006 to 2008), £100,000.
• Industrial Case Studentship, W M Cranton, EPSRC / Faraday CASE (2005 to 2008), £64,000.
• SRELD – Sunlight Readable Electroluminescent Displays, W M Cranton, DTI Technology Programme (2005 to 2009), £108,000.
• Laser processing of inkjet printed materials for displays, W M Cranton, EPSRC/ Faraday CASE (2003 to 2006), £59,700.
• Electroluminescent Display DTI, W M Cranton, DTI Link ELJET Project (2003 to 2006), £225,500.
• Masters Training Package in Display Systems, Technologies and Applications, WM Cranton (CI), EPSRC MTP in Displays (2000 to 2005), £955,589.
• Investigation into transparent frequency selective structures, WM Cranton, Radio Communications Agency (2001 to 2003), £70,000.
• Laser processing of Electroluminescent Materials WM Cranton, Lite Array Inc (2001), £31,000.
• Grant, W M Cranton, EPSRC GR/N24964 (2000 to 2001), £39,637.

• Editor in Chief of major new reference work published by Springer Verlag (Nov 2011): Handbook of Visual Display Technology

Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD or MSc by research exist in the areas of flat panel display materials and devices, excimer laser processing of materials, display characterisation and human factors, micro-and nano-engineering of electro-optical devices. 

Further information may be obtained from the University Graduate School.

Links

• Handbook of Visual Display Technology