Design, Construction and Optical Response Properties of Dye/Superconductor Assemblies

9631394麦克德维特这项研究的重点是染料-超导体组件的设计、制造和研究。这些染料超导体系统对光的影响很敏感，使低温光学开关过程成为可能。初步工作表明，分子染料可以用来使超导结对特定波长的光敏感。已经制备了具有快速响应时间、高灵敏度和选择性波长响应特性的光学敏感组件。这种体系的光谱响应行为与染料层表现出的吸收特性有很好的相关性。由于可以将大量具有不同光谱和光物理性质的染料加入到这样的体系中，因此有可能从分子水平上制备大量的结构，以适应各种不同的应用。根据染料的光物理性质，可以形成促进染料和超导体之间快速而直接的能量转移的系统。可以制备其他系统，这些系统通过从染料向超导体传播热波来发挥作用。此外，注入“热”(即非平衡)电子也可以被设想为在超导体中诱导可测量的电响应的另一种方法。利用高度取向的薄膜结构可以首次探索与激发染料和超导界面之间的能量和电子转移现象有关的有趣问题。通过评估染料沉积前后的超导体界面性质，可以获得与分子染料组分和铜酸盐化合物之间的化学兼容性有关的重要信息。从拟议的研究中，预计将提供以下信息：1)建造染料-超导体组件的可靠方法将被确定。2.)将探索分子层和高温超导体的化学兼容性。这些信息不仅有助于光学器件的发展，也将有助于传统高温超导薄膜器件的更快发展。3.)将获得与染料-超导体能量转移过程有关的初始信息。4.)将评估热波、热电子注入和直接偶极耦合能量传递过程的效率。5.)将对包含发光(荧光和磷光)、非发光、光导、电致变色和光致变色染料结构的系统进行评估，以识别和探索各种分子/超导通信通道。6.)这一高度跨学科的计划不仅将致力于在一个新的科学领域发展知识库，而且还将在一个具有战略重要性的领域为未来的科学家提供一个极好的培训基地。%描述了一个旨在设计、制造和表征染料/超导体组件的广泛计划。在调查者实验室完成的工作已经证明，许多染料系统可以与超导薄膜元件结合使用，以生产各种对不同波长的光有选择地响应的光学敏感组件。超导体的利用产生了在捕光染料层和超导体之间发生非常有效的能量转移的结构。各种分子系统的使用为制备大量的光学敏感结构提供了机会，这些结构可以从分子水平为各种应用量身定做。对染料/超导组件的研究将产生与更有效的处理方法有关的有用信息，这些方法可用于更快地将高温超导器件商业化。此外，染料/超导平台应该提供一种方便的手段来探索染料/染料和染料/超导能量和电子转移现象。混合超导组件以可控的方式感测不同波长的光的能力，可能会对超导传感器和设备的未来应用产生重要影响。

9631394 McDevitt This research focuses on the design, fabrication and study of dye-superconductor assemblies. These dyesuperconductor systems are sensitive to the influence of light, making cryogenic optical switching processes possible. Initial work has shown that molecular dyes can be used to sensitize superconductor junctions to specific wavelengths of light. Optically sensitive assemblies which display rapid response time, high sensitivity and selective wavelength response characteristics have been prepared. The spectral response behavior of such systems correlate well with the absorbance properties exhibited by the dye layer. Since a large number of dyes with different spectral and photophysical properties can be incorporated into such systems, it is possible to prepare a plethora of structures which are tailored from the molecular level so as to suit a variety of different applications. Depending on the photophysical properties of the dye, systems which foster rapid and direct energy transfer between the dye and the superconductor can be fashioned. Other systems can be prepared which function through the propagation of thermal waves from the dye to the superconductor. Moreover, injection of "hot" (i.e. nonequilibrium) electrons can also be envisioned as an alternative method to induce a measurable electrical response in the superconductor. Interesting issues related to the efficiency of energy and electron transfer phenomena between excited dyes and superconducting interfaces can be explored for the first time with the use of highly oriented thin film structures. Important information related to the chemical compatibility between the molecular dye components and the cuprate compounds can be acquired through an evaluation of the superconductor interfacial properties before and after dye deposition. From the proposed studies, the following information is anticipated: 1.) Reliable methods to construct dye-superconductor assemblies will be identified. 2.) Che mical compatibility of molecular layers and high-Tc superconductors will be explored. This information will be useful not only for the development of the optical devices, but also will contribute to the more rapid development of traditional high-Tc thin film devices. 3.) The initial information related to dye-superconductor energy transfer processes will be obtained. 4.) The efficiencies of thermal wave, hot electron injection and direct dipole coupling energy transfer processes will evaluated. 5.) Systems which incorporate luminescent (fluorescent and phosphorescent), nonluminescent, photoconductive, electrochromic and photochromic dye structures will be evaluated to identify and to explore the various molecule/superconductor communication channels. 6.) This highly interdisciplinary program will not only target the development of a knowledge base in a novel new field of science, but will also serve as an excellent training grounds for future scientists in a strategically important area. %%% A broad program which targets the design, fabrication and characterization of dye/superconductor assemblies is described. Work completed in the Investigator's laboratory has already demonstrated that a number of dye systems can be used in combination with superconductor thin film elements to produce a variety of optically sensitive assemblies that respond selectively to different wavelengths of light. The utilization of the superconductors yield structures where very efficient energy transfer between the light harvesting dye layer and the superconductor occurs. The use of various molecular systems affords the opportunity to prepare a plethora of optical!y sensitive structures that can be tailored from the molecular level for a variety of applications. Studies of the dye/superconductor assemblies will yield useful information related to more effective processing methods that can be used for the more rapid commercialization of high-Tc devices. Moreover, the dye/superconductor platform should provide a convenient means to explore dye/dye and dye/superconductor energy and electron transfer phenomena. The ability of a hybrid superconducting assembly to sense different wavelengths of light in a controllable fashion may have important consequences for future application of superconducting sensors and devices.