Optimization and Control of Charge Transport in Nanostructured Organic/Inorganic Composites

技术人员：该项目的目标是实现更大的理解和能力，创造系统的表面改性策略，以改善有机物和无机物之间的电荷传输。有机/无机复合材料代表了一类新的电子材料，其表现出新的性质，可以通过设计和控制组成结构和电子功能来修改其特定应用。然而，有机/无机界面对这种复合材料的性能至关重要。目前对界面微观结构对电荷传输的作用缺乏了解，限制了这些材料的性能。该方法侧重于有机分子的第一层，创造有益层的策略，以及表征和优化有机层与无机表面的相互作用。研究将针对半导体氧化物上的表面分子层，特别强调ZnO/聚合物共混物。重点是界面的材料科学，以及它如何随着界面分子层的变化而变化。这项工作的总体目标是实现新的知识和理解，可以应用到更广泛的一类氧化物界面和有机成分，有助于未来的发展有机/无机复合材料。将应用光学、结构和电子表征技术来了解所研究的特定功能化表面的性质，并定义一种系统的方法来揭示有机/无机混合物的界面电子性质。非技术性：该项目解决了具有高技术相关性的材料科学热门领域的基础研究问题。该研究将在基础层面上为潜在的下一代电子/光子器件的新理解和能力贡献基础材料科学知识。有机/无机复合材料具有创造电子材料的潜力，在能源效率，生物，医疗和环境应用中具有全新的功能。该项目将通过提供对限制性能的关键问题之一的基本理解来加速这些材料的开发。拟议的项目直接将研究与教育结合起来。学生和教师将与科罗拉多矿业学院（CSM）现有的外展计划合作，该计划针对丹佛中学，那里有大量代表性不足的群体。探索微观结构和材料特性之间联系的模块将被引入中学。IBM研究部门的同事将提供开发这些模块的帮助和指导，项目期间开发的方法将包括在一个由Co-PI教授的暑期中学科学再认证计划中。该项目还将包括在一个高度跨学科领域的研究生和本科生培训的独特机会。学生们将与他们的顾问，位于CSM附近的国家可再生能源实验室（NREL）的合作者以及洛斯阿拉莫斯的科学家一起，每天在一个综合团队中工作。本科生参与研究，注重沟通技巧，并在团队环境中发展工作技能是该项目的组成部分。该项目由DMR固态化学和DMR电子材料项目共同资助。

Technical: The goal of this project is to achieve greater understanding and the ability to create systematic surface modification strategies to improve charge transport between organics and inorganics. Organic/inorganic composites represent a new class of electronic materials that exhibit novel properties that can be modified for specific applications through design and control of constituent structural and electronic functionality. The organic/inorganic interface is critical to the performance of such composites, however. The lack of understanding of the role of interfacial microstructure on charge transport currently limits the performance of these materials. The approach focuses on the first layer of organic molecules, strategies for creating beneficial layers, and for characterizing and optimizing the interaction of the organic layer with the inorganic surface. Research will be directed at developing surface molecular layers on semiconducting oxides, with special emphasis on ZnO/polymer blends. Emphasis is on materials science of the interface, and how it changes as interfacial molecular layers are changed. The overall aim of this work is on achieving new knowledge and understanding that can be applied to a broader class of oxide interfaces and organic constituents, aiding future development of organic/inorganic composites. Optical, structural and electronic characterization techniques will be applied to develop an understanding of the properties of the specific functionalized surfaces under study, and to define a systematic approach to uncovering the interfacial electronic properties of organic/inorganic hybrids.Non-Technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science having high technological relevance. The research will contribute basic materials science knowledge at a fundamental level to new understanding and capabilities for potential next generation electronic/photonic devices. Organic/inorganic composites have the potential for creating electronic materials with entirely new functionality in energy efficiency, biological, medical, and environmental applications. This project will accelerate the development of these materials by providing fundamental understanding of one of the key issues limiting performance. The proposed project directly integrates research with education. Students and faculty will work with an existing outreach program at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) aimed at Denver middle schools with large populations of under-represented groups. Modules which explore connections between microstructure and materials properties will be introduced into the middle schools. Assistance and guidance in developing the modules will be provided by colleagues at the IBM research division, and approaches developed during the project will be included in a summer middle school science recertification program taught by one of the Co-PIs. The project will also include unique opportunities for graduate and undergraduate training in a highly interdisciplinary field. The students will work on a daily basis in an integrated team with their advisors, collaborators at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) which is located in close proximity to CSM, and with scientists at Los Alamos. Involvement of undergraduate students in research, a focus on communication skills, and developing skills for work in a team environment are integral parts of the project. This project is co-funded by the DMR Solid State Chemistry and DMR Electronic Materials programs.