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Prof. Nathaniel D. Robinson

Picture of Nathaniel RobinsonEmail: nathaniel.d.robinson@liu.se
Telephone: +46 (0)13 28 2212
Office: Fysikhuset N319

 

ORC-ID: 0000-0002-2773-5096

 

 

Summary

For a summary of my current research, see the Transport and Separations Group homepage.

Background

I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1994. I then earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University, focusing in the area of transport and interface stability. Breaking away from academia, I spent two years as a process/development engineer with Intel Corporation near Portland, Oregon. Projects there included work on the co-development of a polymer memory product with Thin Film Electronics (of Sweden).

I was a member of the Organic Electronics group at ITN from October of 2002 to 2006 when I obtained my Docent degree. My experience in mathematical modeling of transport processes and chemical reactions proved useful in understanding and developing new hybrid devices, resulting in several patents.

In 2008 I moved to IFM, where I have started a new group focused on processes involving species transport and separations.

Besides performing research, I am a co-founder of several companies aimed at commercializing research results, including Lunavation AB, LunaMicro AB, Inorel AB and OBOE. I am also available as a consultant and teacher in statistical process control (SPC) and experiment design (DOE, DOX), two techniques employed by the electronics industry for improving and maintaining quality in manufacturing processes.

Research

My research combines my experience in the fields of transport phenomena (e.g. fluid dynamics), microelectronics and materials science, particularly the area of organic electronics. "Organic electronics" lies on the frontier between electrochemistry and device physics. Bringing ideas together from these fields to understand conducting polymers and their applications forms the foundation for the strength of my research group.

One of the most exciting characteristics of many conducting polymers is their ability to change their properties electrochemically. Changes in color, conductivity and volume are widely-used in a variety of devices. Among other things, I am interested in employing these materials can be used for simplifying the manufacture and use of low-cost point-of-care medical diagnostic devices, particularly with techniques such as additive manufacturing (3D printing).

Specific areas I am interested in include:

  • Microfluidic devices employing electrochemical conjugated polymers and conducting metal oxides
  • Medical applications such as point-of-care diagnostics
  • Chemical and biological applications such as drug delivery, bulk fluid transport and separation processes 
  • Additive (both 3D printing and roll-to-roll) manufacturing of organic electronics
  • Fundamental research into the kinetics and ionic and electronic transport in components such as light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), electrochemical transistors and electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors

In the past, I have also worked extensively with:

  • Characterization of conductive organic polymer and metal oxide devices and materials
  • Electronic surface energy control
  • The electrochemical transistor and its use in transistor logic and biological sensors and actuators
  • Improvement in electrochemical display contrast, speed and reliability
  • Mathematical modeling of the devices above for fundamental understanding and engineering applications including: electronic transport models for PEDOT-PSS and other materials and rate characterization of ion transport and electrochemical reactions

External collaborations (prior and current)

Memberships / Commissions of trust

Journal covers

 

Recent Publications

A summary of my publications and citations can be found at ResearcherID.com.

 

 


 

Patents and applications

  • A light-emitting electrochemical device, a system comprising such a device and use of such a device, SE0950800-3.
  • A system for electrokinetic fluid flow, US9168527, SE534488, WO2011102801.
  • Electrochemical Device, WO2011042430, EP2486447.
  • Transistor with large ion-complexes in electrolyte layer, US7646013.
  • Device, kit and method for monitoring a parameter history, EP1862786 / US2008223717.
  • Method, device and computer program product for monitoring a substrate patterning process, EP1916670 / US2008156663.
  • E-field mapping, US2006087324.
  • Timer switch, EP1720188 / US2006261676.
  • Electrically controlled ion transport device, EP1862798 / US2008023339.
  • Transistor, EP1786049 / US2007138463.
  • Wettability Switch, WO2005053836.

Popular science contributions

Conference contributions

  • K. Bengtsson and N. D. Robinson Low-cost 3D printed Electrokinetic in 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2013)
  • P. G. Erlandsson, P. Preechaburana, E. Åstrom, D. Filippini, N. D. Robinson and P. Påhlsson Fucose on a chip: A lab on a chip device for screening cancer and liver disease in 2013 Diagnostics Forum (Uppsala, Sweden, 2013)
  • N. D. Robinson Low-voltage and electrolysis-free electroosmosis for microfluidic applications in COST / LIST Symposium 2012 Bioinspired Nanotechnologies for Distributed Diagnostics (Linköping, Sweden, 2012)
  • N. D. Robinson and P. G. Erlandsson Electrolysis-free Electrokinetic Systems Based on Conjugated Polymer Electrodes in MSW2012 (Linköping, Sweden, 2012)
  • N. D. Robinson Applications of Conjugated Polymers in Separation Science in Nordic Separation Science Society 6th Conference (Riga, Latvia, 2011)
  • S. Nilsson M. Fahlman F. Björefors and N. D. Robinson Adsorption of Poly-L-lysine as a Function of Applied Potential in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2010)
  • P. G. Erlandsson and N. D. Robinson Ion-electron Transducing Electrodes With Electrochemically Active Material for Sample-Friendly Electroosmotic Pumps in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2010)
  • S. Nilsson and N. D. Robinson The Effect of Applied Potential on the Adsorption of Poly-L-lysine on Platinum Electrodes using EQCM-D in AIChE Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 2010)
  • P. G. Erlandsson and N. D. Robinson Ion-electron transducers utilizing electrodes with electrochemically active conductive material for electroosmotic pumps in Lab-On-A-Chip applications in AIChE Annual Meeting  (Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 2010)
  • P. Matyba, H Yamaguchi, G. Eda, M. Chhowalla, L. Edman and N. D. Robinson Metal-free all-organic polymer light-emitting devices in AIChE Annual Meeting  (Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 2010)
  • P. Matyba, H Yamaguchi, G. Eda, M. Chhowalla, L. Edman and N. D. Robinson Graphene electrodes for metal-free organic light-emitting devices in ICoCoM (Sousse, Tunisia, 2010)
  • P. Matyba, H Yamaguchi, G. Eda, M. Chhowalla, L. Edman and N. D. Robinson Metal-free polymer light-emitting electrochemical cells incorporating a transparent graphene electrode in Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting (Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2010)
  • P. G. Erlandsson and N. D. Robinson Side-reaction free electrodes for electrokinetic Lab-on-a-chip Applications in Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting (Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2010)
  • S. Nilsson, M. Fahlman, F. Björefors N. D. Robinson The Effect of Applied Potential on the Adsorption of Poly-L-lysine on Platinum Electrodes in Electrochemical Society Fall Meeting (Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2010)
  • N. D. Robinson Graphene Elecrrodes for Organic Metal-free Light-emitting Devices in Nobel Symosium on Graphene and Quantum Matter (Stockholm, Sweden, 2010)
  • P. Tehrani, N. D. Robinson, M. Robertsson, A. Malmström, D. Nilsson and M. Berggren, Printable Temperature Logging Device in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • P. Tehrani, A. Kanciurzewska, X. Crispin, N. D. Robinson, M. Fahlman and M. Berggren, Ph Dependence on the over-Oxidation Mechanism in Pedot:Pss Films in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • P. Tehrani, J. Isaksson, D. Nilsson, N. D. Robinson, L.-O. Hennerdal and M. Berggren, Electrochemical over-Oxidation as a Patterning Technique for Printed Electronics in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • N. D. Robinson, Electrochemical Control of the Surface Energy of Conjugated Polymers for Guiding Samples in Micro- and Nano-Fluidic Systems in IUTAM Symposium on Advances in Microfluidics and Nanofluidics (Dresden, Germany, 2007)
  • J. Isaksson, P. Kjäll, D. Nilsson, N. D. Robinson, M. Berggren and A. Richter-Dahlfors, Artificially Induced Ca2+ Flux in Hcn-2 Neuronal Cells Using an Organic Electronic Ion Pump in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • L. Herlogsson, X. Crispin, E. Said, N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, Low-Voltage Organic Field-Effect Transistors Gated Via Polyanionic Electrolytes in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • M. Berggren, A. Richter-Dahlfors, J. Isaksson, D. Nilsson, P. Kjall and N. Robinson, An Organic Electronic Ion Pump to Induce Intracellular Signalling in Living Cells in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007)
  • N. D. Robinson, D. Nilsson, J. Isaksson, P. Kjäll, A. Richter-Dahlfors and M. Berggren, Micro-Electrochemical and Electrophoretic Delivery of Charged Species from Conducting Polymer Surfaces in American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2006)
  • N. D. Robinson, L. Herlogsson, E. Said, X. Crispin and M. Berggren, Electrochemical and Electrolyte-Enhanced Polymer Thin Film Transistors in American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2006)
  • N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, Large-Volume Roll-to-Roll Screen Printing of Organic Electronic Devices in American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2006)
  • J. Isaksson, D. Nilsson, P. Kjäll, N. D. Robinson, A. Richter-Dahlfors and M. Berggren, An Organic Electronic Ion Pump for Spatial and Temporal Control of Ion Delivery from a Surface in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2006)
  • J. Bobacka, A. Ivaska, P.-O. Svensson, N. Robinson and M. Berggren, Electrochemical Sensors Based on Organic Electrochemical Transistors in E-MRS IUMRS ICEM 2006 Spring Meeting (Nice, France, 2006)
  • M. Berggren, K. Svennersten, A. Richter-Dahlfors, M. Bolin and N. Robinson, Electronic Control of Cell Adhesion and Tissue Formation Using Electronic Surface Tension Switches in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2006)
  • M. Berggren, N. D. Robinson, L. Robinson, D. Nilsson, J. Isaksson and P.-O. Svensson, Polythiophene-Based Electrochemical Transistors in Sensor and Actuator Applications in E-MRS IUMRS ICEM 2006 Spring Meeting (Nice, France, 2006)
  • M. Berggren, L. Robinson, N. Robinson, J. Isaksson, E. Saindon and M. Bolin, Electronic Wettability Switches as the Gate for Analytes in Microfluidic Systems in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2006)
  • E. Said, N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, Detecting Local Concentration and Mobility in Electrolytes by Measuring the Electric Field in Electrolytes in Electrochemical Society 207th Meeting (Quebec City, Canada, 2005)
  • N. D. Robinson, P.-O. Svensson, D. Nilsson and M. Berggren, Electrochromism as a Tool for Understanding the Electrochemical Polymer Transistor in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2005)
  • N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, Combined Electrochemical Kinetic and Electronic Transport Model of the Doping of a Thin Conjugated Polymer Film in Materials Research Society Spring Meeting (San Francisco, CA, USA, 2005)
  • D. Nilsson, R. Forchheimer, M. Berggren and N. Robinson, The Electrochemical Transistor and Circuit Design Considerations in IEEE Proceedings of the 2005 European Conference on Circuit Theory and Design (Cork, Ireland, 2005)
  • J. Isaksson, L. Robinson, N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, Electronic Control of Contact Angles and Liquid Movement on Conducting Polymer Surfaces in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2005)
  • M. Berggren, L.-O. Hennerdal, D. Nilsson, A. Sawatdee, R. Forchheimer and N. D. Robinson, Printed Integrated Electronic and Electrochemical Systems on Paper in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2005)
  • P. Andersson, P. Tehrani, R. Forchheimer, D. Nilsson, N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, All-Organic Active Matrix Addressed Displays Based on Electrochromic Polymers and Flexible Substrates in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2005)
  • J. Isaksson, C. Tengstedt, M. Fahlman, N. D. Robinson and M. Berggren, A Solid-State Organic Electrochemical Wettability Switch in ISE 55th annual meeting (Thessaloniki, Greece, 2004)
  • M. Berggren, D. Nilsson, P.-O. Svensson, P. Andersson, M. Chen, P. Tehrani and N. D. Robinson, Electrochemical Transistors Based on Conjugated Polymers in ISE 55th annual meeting (Thessaloniki, Greece, 2004)
  • M. Berggren, M. Chen, E. Perzon, M. Andersson and N. Robinson, Electroluminescence at 1 Micron from a Conjugated Polymer in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2004)
  • M. Berggren, P. Andersson and N. Robinson, Diodes Based on Blends of Molecular Switches and Conjugated Polymers in E-MRS Spring Meeting (Strasbourg, France, 2004)
  • P.-O. Svensson, N. D. Robinson, D. Nilsson, J. Häll and M. Berggren, Pinch-Off and Saturation Behaviour in an Electrochemical Polymer Transistor Based on Pedot:Pss in 3rd International IEEE Conference on Polymers and Adhesives in Microelectronics and Photonics - POLYTRONIC 2003, 20-23 Oct. 2003 (Montreaux, Switzerland, 2003)
  • N. D. Robinson, E. Said, D. Nilsson, P.-O. Svensson, J. Häll and M. Berggren, Electric Field Visualization within Electrolytes Using Electronically Isolated Electrochromic Polymer Islands in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2003)
  • N. D. Robinson, Electronic Characteristics of Polymer Electrochemical Devices on Paper or Plastic Substrate in Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Boston, MA, USA, 2003)
  • D. Nilsson, M. Chen, P.-O. Svensson, N. D. Robinson, T. Kugler and M. Berggren, All-Organic Electrochemical Device with Bistable and Dynamic Functionality in SPIE - Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (San Diego, CA, USA, 2003)
  • M. Berggren, D. Nilsson, M. Chen, P. Andersson, T. Kugler, A. Malmstrom, J. Häll, T. Remonen and N. D. Robinson, Polymer Based Electrochemical Devices for Logic Functions and Paper Displays in Proceedings of the SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Smart Structures and Materials 2003. Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) (San Diego, CA, USA, 2003)

 


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Last updated: 2019-04-08