Measuring Molecular Structure at the Active Interface in Functioning Organic Field Effect Transistors via Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation

技术支持：本计画利用非线性光学技术界面选择性振动和频产生光谱，研究有机场效电晶体中活性界面的分子振动及其取向。该项目的目的是表征设备操作之前和期间的界面，以深入了解界面分子结构和功能之间的关系。它的目的是提高理解水平，不仅在材料科学和工程领域的设备开发和测试，而且在分子设计和合成的水平，通过规定需要构建到下一代分子的功能，以实现有效的材料性能。在有机场效应晶体管激活期间进行的实验的原位性质将提供从功能器件内部对材料响应的新视角，不仅有可能描述什么变化，而且还有可能描述变化的时间尺度以及这些特性如何与宏观电响应相关。该项目涉及材料科学专题领域的基础研究问题，具有高度的技术相关性。该项目的跨学科性质为本科生和研究生创造了一个培训环境，他们不仅精通材料加工，而且精通电学和光谱技术。PI及其研究团队积极参与外展活动。例如，PI是FIRST LEGO League气候变化概念的积极介绍者。这些外展活动不仅试图灌输对科学的兴奋，而且还将参与者观察到的材料特性与他们熟悉的现实世界技术（如塑料容器和手机）联系起来。

Technical: This project uses interface-selective vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy, a nonlinear optics technique, to study molecular vibrations and their orientations at the active interface in organic field-effect transistors. The object of the project is to characterize the interface prior to and during device operation to gain insight into the relationships between interfacial molecular structure and function. It aims to advance the level of understanding not only in the fields of materials science and engineering where the devices are developed and tested, but also at the level of molecular design and synthesis by prescribing the features that need to be built into next generation molecules for efficient materials performance. The in-situ nature of experiments performed during organic field-effect transistor activation will provide a new perspective on the materials response from inside the functioning device, with the potential to describe not only what changes, but also what the timescales of change are and how these properties relate back to the macroscopic electrical response.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. The interdisciplinary nature of this project creates a training environment for undergraduate and graduate students, who are skilled in not only materials processing, but also electrical and spectroscopic techniques. The PI and his research team are actively involved in outreach activities. The PI, for example, is an active presenter on concepts of climate change for the FIRST LEGO League. These outreach activities not only seek to instill excitement about science in general, but to also make connections between the materials properties observed by the participants and the real-world technologies they are familiar with, such as plastic containers and cell phones.