Students are innovating to solve tomorrow’s problems in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Every spring, the ECE 443 LEDs and Solar Cells course enables students to address a grand societal challenge by applying what they’ve learned to create a project. The class explores energy conversion devices to enable energy-efficient and scalable light emitting diodes and solar cells as solutions to the grand challenges in energy, communication and health.
With support from MicroLink Devices and Crosslight, the class competed in two distinct project competitions: MicroLink Devices Best Project Award and the Crosslight Best Project Award.
"Our company sponsors enable the class to compete in solving a major challenge, providing students with a unique opportunity" comments Professor Can Bayram, an Intel Alumni Endowed Faculty Scholar and electrical and computer engineering professor affiliated with the Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Laboratory.
This year, the Crosslight Best Project Award went to ECE junior Rithwik Rayani for “Implantable Biocompatible Micro-LEDs for Multifunctional Optogenetic Neural Control and Brain Mapping.”
Optogenetics enables scientists to manipulate cellular behavior using targeted optical stimulation. Rayani aimed to develop a compact, implantable micro-LED with potential applications for brain mapping, circuit analysis and closed-loop neuromodulation. The device combines blue and green micro-LEDs on a single chip, enabling it to both stimulate and quiet specific neurons. Rayani ensured that the LEDs were non-toxic, biocompatible and as efficient as possible.
The MicroLink Devices Best Project Award went to ECE graduate student Junyoung Jeon for “Monolithically Integrated Temperature-Sensitive IR LED for Junction-Level Thermal Feedback.”
Medical devices that measure blood oxygen levels can often give false readings, as temperatures change from body heat or room temperature. External temperature sensors often fail to reflect the actual junction temperature of the LED. Jeon developed an infrared LED with a built-in temperature sensor, essentially creating a self-correcting system. This could potentially lead to more reliable pulse oximeters and wearable health monitors.
Find out more about ECE 443 Best Projects.