Theoretical and Experimental Design of Multifunctional Plasmonic Electrodes for Polymer-Based Optoelectronics

技术说明：等离子体近场可用于增加有机共轭聚合物半导体材料中的激子产生或发射速率。然而，为了在基于共轭聚合物的光电器件中引入等离子体效应，重要的是控制和稳定等离子体结构的表面电子性质。该项目的目标是开发多功能等离子体电极的设计原则，这些原则是：（1）光学活性;（2）有效的电荷载流子收集/注入;（3）在环境条件下稳定;（4）与有机聚合物光电应用的可扩展纳米纤维路线兼容。等离子体激元电极由垂直取向的金属纳米棒阵列组成，这些纳米棒阵列支持表面等离子体激元，并且是未涂覆的或具有超薄（原生）金属氧化物涂层，以调节表面功函数，消除对额外空穴传输/电子阻挡层的需要，减轻激子淬灭，并提高环境条件下的性能寿命。在该项目中开发的电极，提供光管理能力，并表现出稳定，可控的表面电子特性，预计将使更有效和更耐用的有机聚合物基光电器件，使它们更可行的能源效率和发电应用。项目活动还将联合收割机材料科学与工程、化学与教育的跨学科研究结合起来，使来自地方和州计划（如罗格斯大学科学与工程研究计划、罗格斯大学绿色能源技术REU计划和新泽西州长工程与技术学院）的本科生能够与研究生研究人员一起工作，实现项目的目标。其他项目活动继续支持，鼓励和保持研究团队和更广泛的科学界的多样性;并将参与高中丰富活动作为罗格斯大学外展计划的一部分。

Technical Description: Plasmonic near-fields can be used to increase exciton generation or emission rate in organic conjugated polymer semiconductor materials. However, to incorporate plasmonic effects in conjugated polymer-based optoelectronic devices, it is important to control and stabilize the surface electronic properties of the plasmonic structure. The goal of this project is to develop design principles for multifunctional plasmonic electrodes that are: (1) optically active; (2) efficient at charge carrier collection/injection; (3) stable under ambient conditions; and (4) compatible with scalable nanofabrication routes for organic polymer optoelectronic applications. The plasmonic electrodes consist of vertically-oriented metal nanorod arrays that support surface plasmons and that are either uncoated or have an ultra-thin (native) metal oxide coating to tune the surface work function, eliminate the need for additional hole transport/electron blocking layers, mitigate exciton quenching, and improve performance lifetime in ambient conditions.Non-technical Description: The electrodes developed in this project, that provide light management capabilities and that exhibit stable, controllable surface electronic properties, are expected to enable both more efficient and more durable organic polymer-based optoelectronic devices, making them more viable for energy efficiency and generation applications. The project activities also combine interdisciplinary research in materials science and engineering, and chemistry with education by enabling undergraduate students from local and state programs (such as Rutgers Research in Science and Engineering program, Rutgers' Green Energy Technology REU program and the New Jersey Governor's School of Engineering and Technology) to work alongside graduate researchers on the goals of the project. Additional project activities continue to support, encourage and maintain diversity in the research team and in the broader scientific community; and incorporate participation in high-school enrichment as part of Rutgers' outreach programs.