EAGER: Nanomodular Systems for Efficient Light Emission from a Heterogeneous Integration of Polymers, Two-Dimensional Semiconductors and Insulators

光发射是现代科技时代的重要组成部分。工程结构产生的光的每一项重大进展都对社会和国家安全产生了巨大影响。这些以前的进展包括半导体激光器、发光二极管和固态照明。它们通过影响照明、通信、信息存储、娱乐和其他方面，几乎彻底改变了生活的方方面面。必须继续在这一领域进行创新，并实现超越以往技术能力的新型发光系统和结构。这一早期概念探索性研究(EARGER)奖支持允许创建新型发光结构的研究，这些新型发光结构将不同的材料结合在建筑中，有望改善功能。在这项研究中，发光聚合物与原子薄的半导体和量子点结合在一起，采用了一种集成多种材料的制造方法。这项研究推动了制造的科学和技术，以创造促进这种异质集成的工艺。纳米模块系统的出现对美国的电子和光电子产业产生了积极的影响，从而促进了美国的经济和繁荣。该项目让女性和代表性不足的群体参与研究，并培训工程学学生掌握对下一代制造业至关重要的先进技术。该项目还让各级学生接触尖端研究，从而激励他们在科学和工程领域追求职业生涯。该项目结合了自下而上(自组装)和自上而下(光刻)的纳米制造方法，创建了纳米模块系统，大大提高了发光结构的功能。这些结构是基于2D半导体、半导体聚合物、量子点纳米晶和绝缘体的组合。2D半导体的双极注入电子和空穴是这项研究的关键组成部分，它通过电荷和能量转移的组合导致聚合物或量子点的发光。在这种材料的杂交组合中，结合了不同材料的有利性能。例如，2D半导体具有良好的电荷注入和传输性能，但发光性能较差。半导体聚合物和量子点可以具有非常高的发光效率，但通常电荷传输性能很差。在成功的异质集成中，良好的性能被结合在一起，创造出单独使用材料很难达到的性能水平。该项目直接解决了制造和设计方面的挑战，从而实现了成功的功能整合。纳米模块系统的设计以电荷传输理论和数值模拟为指导。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Light emission is an important part of modern technological age. Every major advance in the generation of light from engineered structures has had a huge impact on society and the nation's security. Such previous advances include the semiconductor laser, the light emitting diode, and solid-state lighting. They have revolutionized almost every aspect of life by impacting lighting, communication, information storage, entertainment, and others. It is essential that innovation in this area continues to take place and new types and architectures of light emitting systems be realized that exceed the capabilities of previous technologies. This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award supports research that allows new types of light emitting structures to be created that combine dissimilar materials in architectures that hold promise for improved functionality. In this research, light emitting polymers are combined with atomically thin semiconductors and quantum dots using a manufacturing approach that integrates multiple materials. This research advances the science and technology of manufacturing to create processes that facilitate such a heterogeneous integration. The availability of nanomodular systems positively impacts U.S. electronics and optoelectronics industries, thus boosting the nation's economy and prosperity. The project involves women and under-represented groups in research and trains engineering students in advanced technologies that are important in next generation manufacturing. The project also exposes students at all levels to cutting-edge research, thus motivating them to pursue careers in science and engineering.The project combines bottom-up (self-assembly) and top-down (lithography) nanomanufacturing approaches to create nanomodular systems for vastly improved functionality of light-emitting structures. The structures are based on combinations of 2D semiconductors, semiconducting polymers, quantum dot nanocrystals, and insulators. Ambipolar injection of electrons and holes by the 2D semiconductor is a crucial component of the research which leads to light emission from either the polymer or the quantum dot via combinations of charge and energy transfer. In such hybrid combinations of materials, the advantageous properties of different materials are combined. For example, 2D semiconductors have good charge injection and transport properties but poor light emission properties. Semiconducting polymers and quantum dots can possess very high light emission efficiencies but have generally poor charge transport properties. In a successful heterogeneous integration, the favorable properties are combined to create a level of performance that is very difficult to attain with the individual materials. The project directly addresses the manufacturing and design challenges that result in a successful functional integration. The design of nanomodular systems is guided by charge transport theory and numerical simulations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.