Dynamics of Photogenerated Excitons, Charge Carriers and Reorientations of Chromophores in Photorefractive Polymeric Nanocomposites

本项目旨在研究含有量子点的杂化聚合物纳米复合材料中发生光折变效应的各个步骤的动力学。本研究将针对含量子点作为光敏剂的材料的光产生和载流子输运机制以及折射率光栅的发展进行研究。重点是红外光敏化过程，将光折变灵敏度扩展到通信波长，以及多激子产生诱导载流子倍增的过程，以显着提高较短波长的光折变性能。纳米复合材料将涉及工程半导体纳米粒子（量子点，QDs），如纳米足，通过将量子点附着在碳纳米管上，并通过使用诸如并五苯之类的迁移率增强成分。该项目将重点培养少数民族学生和研究人员，这是我校的一个优先事项。他们将参与涉及纳米技术、光子学和光谱学的多学科研究。该项目将广泛影响光电子学和光伏学，导致使用载流子倍增的更好的紫外（UV）探测器，以及能够从紫外到红外（IR）收集光子的宽带，高效光伏和太阳能电池。利用载流子倍增的光电器件通过有效地利用易于获得的深紫外光子，在空间应用中特别有用。该项目将重点培养少数民族学生和研究人员，这是我校的一个优先事项。

This project aims to study the dynamics of various steps relevant to the occurrence of the photorefractive effect in hybrid polymeric nanocomposites containing quantum dots. The investigations will target the mechanisms of photogeneration and transport of charge carriers and the development of the refractive index grating in materials containing quantum dots acting as photosensitizers. The focus is on the process of photosensitization in the infrared to extend the photorefractive sensitivity to telecommunication wavelengths as well as on the process of multiexciton generation induced carrier multiplication to dramatically improve the photorefractive performance at shorter wavelengths. The nanocomposites will involve engineered semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots, QDs) such as nanopods, through attachment of the QDs to carbon nanotubes and through the use of mobility boosting components such as pentacene. The project will place emphasis on training of minority students and researchers, which is a priority at our university. They will be involved in highly multidisciplinary research involving nanotechnology, photonics and spectroscopy.%%%This project will impact broadly optoelectronics and photovoltaics, leading to better ultraviolet (UV) detectors using carrier multiplication, as well as broad band, highly efficient photovoltaic and solar cells capable of harvesting photons from UV to infrared (IR). The optoelectronic devices using carrier multiplication will be especially useful for space applications by efficiently using readily available deep UV photons. The project will place emphasis on training of minority students and researchers, which is a priority at our university.