Spectroscopic studies of excitonic materials for optoelectronic devices

从云计算、可再生能源、远程医疗到社交媒体、智能手机和物联网，正在重塑加拿大日常生活的主要技术趋势都建立在数万亿个传输和转换能源和信息的电子设备之上。目前，这些组件（晶体管、探测器、光伏、led…）绝大多数是由传统半导体，特别是硅制成的。然而，在某些应用中，替代材料具有现实世界的优势，包括能源效率、灵活性或独特的性能。事实上，在2016年，大多数高端智能手机显示屏都是由分子有机半导体制成的，而顶级平板电视则采用了胶体量子点——色彩斑斓的半导体块。光通过激子与这些新型半导体相互作用：激子是可以在纳米尺度上传输或暂时储存能量的量子包。*** ***我们试图了解激子的丰富行为，使用激光光谱学来监测它们短暂的（100fs-100μs）生命。我们将观察它们是由光子吸收产生的，在熵和量子力学自旋的影响下进化，并通过材料和界面移动，将它们的能量载荷带到目标。我们将通过成为量子点合成和纳米结构、多组分薄膜器件制造方面的专家来支持我们的追求，特别是那些与短波红外光相互作用的器件。（λ: 1-3μm）******总之，当我们揭示激子的丰富行为时，我们将能够想象和推进新技术，例如使用有机分子和量子点来帮助传统的硅相机“看到”红外光。事实上，我们将寻求技术机遇，发挥加拿大的经济优势。例如，我们的研究可以提高当今太阳能电池的效率，为廉价的生物医学成像提供新的染料，可以更深入地探测组织，降低红外摄像机的成本，使它们能够帮助自动驾驶汽车看穿雾。******重要的是，这项资助使研究项目的成果不仅仅是发表的发现，它还为学生提供了高级培训机会。在接下来的五年里，威尔逊实验室预计将发展到大约8名研究生，2名博士后，以及两个本科生轮换职位。我们在招聘方面的早期成功源于我们对导师的坚定奉献，以及学生在本应用范围内从事自己的研究项目的热情，并学习技术技能（超快光学，材料表征，薄膜沉积等）和更广泛的能力（沟通，实验，分析，设计），这些都是在广泛的职业中受到追捧的。

The major technological trends that are reshaping everyday life in Canada—from cloud computing, renewable energy, and telemedicine, to social media, smartphones, and the internet-of-things—are built upon the trillions of electronic devices that transmit and transform energy and information. At present, these components (transistors, detectors, photovoltaics, LEDs...) are overwhelmingly made from traditional semiconductors, particularly silicon. However, in some applications, alternative materials have real-world advantages, including energy efficiency, flexibility, or unique performance. Indeed, in 2016, most high-end smartphone displays are made from molecular organic semiconductors, and top-of-the-line flat-panel televisions employ colloidal quantum dots—brilliantly colourful semiconductor chunks. Light interacts with these novel semiconductors via excitons: quantum packets that can transport or temporarily store energy on the nano-scale.*** ***We seek to understand the rich behaviour of excitons, using laser spectroscopy to monitor their fleeting (100fs–100μs) lives. We will watch as they are created by photon absorption, evolve under the influence of entropy and quantum-mechanical spin, and move through materials and across interfaces to carry their energy payload to the target. We will support our pursuit by becoming experts in the synthesis of quantum dots and the fabrication of nanostructured, multi-component thin-film devices—particularly those that interact with short-wave infrared light. (λ:1–3μm)******In sum, as we reveal the rich behaviour of excitons, we will be able to imagine and advance new technologies, such as the use of organic molecules and quantum dots together to help conventional silicon cameras 'see' infrared light. Indeed, the technological opportunities we will pursue play to Canada's economic strengths. For example our research could enhance the efficiency of today's solar cells, enable new dyes for inexpensive biomedical imaging that can probe more deeply into tissue, and reduce the cost of infrared cameras so that they can help autonomous vehicles see through fog.******Importantly, the outcome of the research program enabled by this grant is more than published discoveries—it is also the advanced training opportunities provided to students. Over the next five years, the Wilson Lab is expected to grow to approximately 8 graduate students, 2 postdoctoral fellows, and two rotating positions for undergraduates. Our early success in recruitment stems from a firm dedication to mentorship, as well as students' enthusiasm to pursue their own research projects within the scope of this application, and learn technical skills (ultrafast optics, materials characterization, thin-film deposition, etc.) and broader abilities (communication, experimentation, analysis, design) that are sought-after in a wide range of careers.