EAGER: New p-i-n Structures for Creating and Retaining Dipole Orientation in Organic Electro-Optic Materials

技术说明：用于高速通信的光子技术的快速发展对高性能电光材料和器件产生了强烈的需求。虽然有机电光材料已经成为强有力的候选者，但它们的稳定性受到发色团的偏心顺序的衰减的影响。该项目探索了一种新的方法来创建和保持有机电光材料中的无中心秩序，目的是制造一种实现高电光响应和稳定性的器件。研究仔细调查极化行为和相关的光学非线性。通过在p型透明半导体层和n型透明半导体层之间掺杂有机电光材料，制备了新型电光器件。源自半导体层的费米能级之间的差异的强内建场执行接触电极极化以在有机电光材料中产生并维持偏心有序。材料和器件的光学性能通过使用二次谐波产生和双光束耦合实验进行测试。非技术描述：该项目解决了有机电光材料稳定性的基础科学问题。稳定材料和器件的成功制造可以产生先进光学技术持续发展所必需的新的高性能电光元件。稳定的电光器件在光调制、信息处理和光通信技术中有很高的需求。通过启动非线性光学材料和相关技术的研究，该项目有助于鼓励南达科他州州立大学在材料科学、光学、物理、化学和电子学方面的跨学科研究。

Technical Description: The rapid development of photonic technologies for high-speed communication has created a strong demand for high-performance electro-optic materials and devices. Although organic electro-optic materials have emerged as strong candidates, their stability is compromised by decay of the acentric order of the chromophores. This project explores a new method to create and preserve the acentric order in organic electro-optic materials, with the goal of fabricating a device that achieves high electro-optic response and stability. The research carefully investigates poling behavior and related optical nonlinearity. New electro-optic devices are fabricated by sandwiching organic electro-optic materials between p- and n-type transparent semiconductor layers. A strong built-in field, originating from the difference between the Fermi levels of the semiconductor layers, performs contact electrode poling to create and maintain an acentric order in the organic electro-optic materials. The optical performance of the materials and devices is tested by using second harmonic generation and two-beam coupling experiments.Non-technical Description: This project addresses a fundamental science issue on stability in organic electro-optic materials. Successful fabrication of stable materials and devices can generate new high-performance electro-optic components necessary for the continued development of advanced optical technologies. Stable electro-optic devices are in high demand for light modulation, information processing, and optical communication technologies. By initiating research in nonlinear optical materials and related technologies, this project helps encourage interdisciplinary research in materials science, optics, physics, chemistry, and electronics at South Dakota State University.