MRes Soft Electronic Materials
This full-time Master’s course focuses on creating and optimising new types of electronic materials and devices for a diverse range of applications.
Key information
Overview
The MRes in Soft Electronic Materials is a research focussed Masters programme. It is an interdisciplinary course lasting one year focused on creating and optimising new types of electronic materials and devices for a diverse range of applications.
This thriving area of research targets applications such as:
- Printable photovoltaics
- Light-emitting diodes
- Batteries
- Solar fuel production
- Wearable electronics devices
- Sensors
- Bioelectronics
- Chiral emitters and detector
- Spintronics
- Neuromorphic computing
A key attraction of the field is that the materials can often be deposited from solutions enabling devices to be fabricated using printing technologies rather than traditional semiconductor fabrication techniques.
You will cover highly multidisciplinary science during the course. It involves Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. Research activities are wide-ranging, spanning fundamental modelling of molecules and materials, their synthesis, characterisation, design and processing of devices and sensors, as well as measuring and analysing their performance for targeted applications.
We’re looking talented and enthusiastic students from diverse scientific and engineering backgrounds.
Study programme
The course is comprised of lectures and advanced skills training, and a substantial independent research project. The lectures take place during the first term and cover the fundamentals of organic and inorganic semiconductors, material synthesis and processing, materials characterisation, as well as device physics and applications. The bulk of the course comprises an independent research project. This will involve cutting edge research which can range from theoretical to highly applied. It will culminate in the preparation of a thesis.
Structure
This page reflects the latest version of the curriculum for this year of entry. However, this information is subject to change.
The curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for this year of entry.
We recommend you check this page before finalising your application and again before accepting your offer. We will update this page as soon as any changes are confirmed by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about any changes made.
Page last reviewed on 22 October 2021.
Structure
Core modules
There are two core modules in your first term.
Fundamentals of organic and inorganic semiconductors with materials synthesis and processing
This module will refresh the basic properties of semiconducting materials, highlighting the key similarities and differences between electronic behaviour in organic and inorganic materials. You will cover the physics of the electronic structure of pi-conjugated materials and their neutral, excited and charged states, their optical properties, photophysical processes, photochemistry, charge and exciton transport. This will include an introduction to the techniques used to model the electrical and optical properties of molecular materials. Aspects of other material properties such as ferroelectricity, thermoelectricity and magnetism will be introduced.
The second half of the module will cover the preparation and deposition of electroactive materials including the organic, inorganic and hybrid components used in plastic electronic devices. The key concepts of conjugation, synthesis and relevant characterisation will underpin the organic components of the module. This should enable you to select molecules for specific (opto)electronic applications and to suggest functionalisation that will optimise their physical properties. Methods to chemically and physically deposit layers of inorganic and hybrid materials will also be considered, as will the key kinetic and thermodynamic concepts underlying the control of morphology, crystallisation, phase behaviour, and processing of single and multi-component systems used in devices.
Device physics and application and materials characterisation
In conjunction with the Materials and Processing module, this module will introduce materials characterisation techniques. These are relevant to assessing the microstructure and surface/interface properties of relevant electroactive materials. You will be introduced to steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques suitable for interrogating structural properties, excited states, and charge carriers in electroactive materials. Knowledge of these techniques should provide students with a platform to start tackling the practical problems they will encounter during their projects.
The module will also cover the basic principles of operation and design and molecular and hybrid light emitting devices, solar cells, photodiodes, thin film transistors, polymer lasers, gain media, lighting and displays. Emerging devices classes will also be introduced including spintronic and bioelectronics devices. The module will also introduce device fabrication (including encapsulation) and device engineering for performance and lifetime. Methods to evaluate and assess device performance and bottlenecks will be covered. This understanding will provide students with approaches to diagnose and rectify problems in their device designs.
Literature review and research
You will also undertake a Literature Review and Independent Research Project.
Independent Research Project
You will select a research project proposal in the first term following discussion with potential supervisors. Examples of previous projects include next-generation solid-state solar thermal fuels and mechanically robust, MRI compatible bioelectronics.
Practical workshops
Selected advanced practical courses and workshops could be offered throughout the year to MRes students, and include:
Organic thin film and optoelectronic device fabrication & characterisation (Department of Physics)
This week long course includes lectures and practical training. The lectures cover the theory and practical issues of thin film characteristics and device fabrication, and opto-electronic measurements. The practical training will focus on how to measure the optical properties of thin film samples correctly using a variety of techniques.
OPV device fabrication (Department of Chemistry)
This three-day practical training will cover all steps in the fabrication and testing of lab-scale light-emitting diodes, photodiodes and OFETs in a clean room environment. The course includes substrate preparation, spin coating of organic layers, contact evaporation and encapsulation, followed by opto-electrical measurement.
Computational workshops (Department of Physics)
The workshops will focus on four main areas:
- Molecular modelling
- Optical and electronic properties of materials
- Device physics
- Material structure and dynamics
The workshops will introduce students to some of the range of computational packages available for the simulation of molecular materials, including the elements of quantum chemistry calculations using Gaussian and Turbomole, molecular dynamics packages such as GROMACS, and packages for the visualisation and rendering of molecular structures. Training will consist of short lectures followed by problem solving sessions with demonstrator help available.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Computer classes
- Journal clubs
- Seminars
- Industrial visits
- Blackboard VLE
- Supervised project work
Assessment methods
- Written examination
- Coursework
- Written report
- Oral presentation
- Dissertation
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Admissions
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science or a related subject.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Physics's competence standards [pdf]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Physics
T: +44 (0)20 7594 7512
E: l.sanchez@imperial.ac.uk
How to apply
Making an application
Apply online
All applicants must apply online.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can usually choose up to two courses.
Application fee
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for taught Master's applications (excluding MBAs)
- £135 for MBA applications
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH07-01-01 | Physics | Professor Michele Dougherty |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
Further questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions. Answers cover COVID-19, English language requirements, visas and more.
Tuition fees and funding
The level of tuition fees you pay is based on your fee status, which we assess based on UK government legislation.
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£18,100
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£36,000
Fees are charged by year of entry to the College and not year of study.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) value in the April of the calendar year in which the academic session starts e.g. the RPI value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
The Government has confirmed that EU/EEA/Swiss students who begin a course before the 31 July 2021 will be eligible to pay the same fee as Home students and have access to student finance for the duration of their course, as long as they meet certain requirements which are unchanged from previous years. This includes students who begin the course remotely.
EU/EEA/Swiss students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Home fee rate and so will be charged the Overseas fee. Please note, we do not expect this to apply to Irish students or students benefitting from Citizens' Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens' Rights Agreement respectively. However, we are currently awaiting the formal publication of the amended Fees and Awards regulations.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has useful information on the conditions you currently need to meet to be entitled to pay tuition fees at the Home rate for study on a higher education course in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand (not the amended regulations which are subject to publication).
Postgraduate Master's loan
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for:
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
You can compare costs across our different accommodation options on our Accommodation website.
A rough guide to what you might expect to spend to live in reasonable comfort in London is available on our Fees and Funding website.
Further information
Got a question?
Loli Sanchez
T: +44 (0)20 7594 7512
E: l.sanchez@imperial.ac.uk
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