Collaborative: Engineered Nonlinear Optical Materials Based on Hybrid Nanocomposites

技术：这项由纽约州立大学皇后学院和密歇根大学联合开展的合作研究项目旨在开发一种结合有机、无机和金属体系优点的新型非线性光学材料。研究了由具有大振子强度(类有机)、低饱和功率(类无机)等理想非线性光学性质的杂化激子和通过无机激子与金属纳米颗粒的等离子体强相互作用而形成的准粒子(激子-等离子体极化子)组成的复合结构。该研究项目有望通过(I)Frenkel激子和Wannier-Mott激子在有机-无机界面上的偶极-偶极相互作用和(Ii)无机激子与金属纳米颗粒等离子体之间的强耦合来实现这些杂化材料系统。利用各种光谱和结构表征技术来研究材料的非线性光学性质和形态。非技术性：该项目解决了材料科学中具有高度技术相关性的热门领域的基础研究问题。这一研究项目的成功将为探索一类新型的工程化非线性光学材料，为非线性光学领域做出重大贡献。除了高效的全光开关元件、成像、光谱学和二次谐波产生等潜在应用外，这些材料还可能为量子信息学的交叉学科领域做出贡献。该合作项目还培训、创造研究机会，并帮助来自不同背景和种族的研究生、本科生和高中生灌输对科学和工程的兴趣。

Technical: This collaborative research project at CUNY Queens College and University of Michigan aims to develop a new class of nonlinear optical materials that combine the advantages of organic, inorganic and metallic systems. Composite structures comprising hybridized excitons that have the desirable nonlinear optical properties of large oscillator strength (organic like), low saturation power (inorganic like), and quasiparticles (exciton-plasmon polaritons) that form through the strong interaction between inorganic excitons and plasmons of metal nanoparticles are investigated. The research project is expected to realize these hybridized materials systems through (i) dipole-dipole interaction of the Frenkel and Wannier-Mott excitons at the organic-inorganic interface and (ii) strong coupling between inorganic excitons and plasmons of metal nanoparticles using layered nanocomposite geometry. Nonlinear optical properties and morphology of the materials are investigated using a variety of spectroscopic and structural characterization techniques.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. A successful outcome of this research project will make substantial contributions to the field of nonlinear optics by exploring a new class of engineered nonlinear optical materials. Besides potential applications such as efficient all-optical switching elements, imaging, spectroscopy and second harmonic generation, these materials can potentially contribute to the interdisciplinary field of quantum informatics. The collaborative project also trains, creates research opportunities, and helps instill interest in science and engineering for graduate, undergraduate and high school students, from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.