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ALADIN group is a research unit of the Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (IMM-CNR) sited in the Area di Ricerca di Tor Vergata in Rome. The aim of our research work is the integration of electronic devices on plastic and flexible foils for the development of new applications in the field of large area electronics (LAE). The group has strong expertise in LAE (active matrix for flat panel display, sensors, organics electronics, etc.) with particular focus on thin film transistors (TFTs). This research activity has been supported, in the years, by different collaborations with companies like Philips, ST-Microelectronics, THALES and European projects as ECAM III and FlexiDis.

The key frame-based research activity includes devices designing, fabrication and electrical testing. Devices and circuits analysis is performed by 2D-3D numerical simulations. Recently, the group activity is mainly focused on realization of low-temperature devices on polymeric flexible substrates, for applications in new generation of flat panel display and sensors. Two TFT fabrication technologies were developed, based on organic and inorganic materials. The principal inorganic semiconductor materials used in TFTs are amorphous, micro-crystalline and polycrystalline silicon. In particular, the group has developed a strong know-how on silicon excimer laser crystallization technique, being one of the groups pioneers in this field. In organic TFT field, the group has developed a innovative technology of buffer layers for devices based on pentacene, thus allowing electrical characteristics to be improved.

Within these two electronic platforms (based on polysilicon or pentacene TFTs) the group has developed numerous chemical and physical sensing application to be deployed in advanced robotics, biomedical sector, aerospace market, etc. In particular we have demonstrated fully flexible tactile sensors exploiting low temperature piezoelectric polymers like PVDF, for the implementation of high performing artificial skin. Moreover we have tested both resistive and capacitive sensors integrated with LTPS poly-Si TFTs to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gases (NH3) and humidity. As CIMs we utilized both thin film layer of different polymers (BCB, PMMA, PVDF, PTFE, etc.) and nanostructured blends (PANI/Polx, ZnO nanorods, Si nanowires, etc.). As first biomedical application, we fabricated and tested a fully flexible pH sensor, based on extended gate polysilicon TFT and ZnO nanowalls (used as sensitive membrane).