U researcher John Lupton’s work on organic light-emitting materials, which could make more energy-efficient computers, recently earned him $875,000 from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.
The foundation, which awards fellowships to researchers, chose Lupton for his work on materials that can emit light more efficiently.
Lupton’s research on finding defects in the light-emitting molecules could also help engineers develop even smaller computers or other devices.
“We focus on each molecule and study differences,” said Lupton, a physics professor. “You can improve both the efficiency and the stability, and understand the crashes in computers from molecules that fail.”
Lupton plans to use the funds to help pay for his research team of four graduate students and one postdoctoral researcher.
Even though Lupton knew the U nominated him for the award, he didn’t think he would receive it.
“Usually over half the awards go to Ivy League universities,” he said.
Dave Kieda, chairman of the physics department, said Lupton’s research on organic materials that can create light more efficiently might even improve a recent technology where light-emitting materials can be painted on a wall.
“A lighting manufacturer recently demonstrated how they could paint light-emitting dyes on building materials, and use the coated walls to light up a room,” Kieda said. “It only lasts a couple hundred hours, but the walls themselves will give you a beautiful glow.”
Lupton’s research team not only analyzes particular molecules for defects but also tries to see how much light is emitted from different conductive materials when a laser shines on it.
“We have devices that take a photograph of the light (to measure) it,” Lupton said. “If we can better understand how the particular formula of a material relates to the different light emissions, we hope to be able to provide a road map for future material design.”
Understanding the fundamental properties of molecules can help physicists uncover important information.
“The storage in USB cards came from physicists who tried to understand defects in the original material,” Lupton said. “(They found) there was vacancy in the crystal that gave atoms room to move around.”
By leaving the defects there, scientists can create more room in the USB card, he said.
Kieda said Lupton’s research might lead to new types of light-emitting materials that can be used in laptop displays and TVs.
“Sony just made a new laptop computer where the video screen is as thin as paper,” Kieda said. “This research opens up a deeper understanding of how these materials work, and Professor Lupton is discovering the detailed mechanisms that are involved in the electrical conduction and light emission processes.”
Lupton will travel to Monterey Bay, Calif., next September to give a presentation about his work at a Packard Fellowship conference.