Design, Construction and Optical Response Properties of Dye/Superconductor Assemblies

本研究的重点是染料超导体组件的设计、制造和研究。这些染料超导体系统对光的影响很敏感，使低温光开关过程成为可能。最初的工作表明，分子染料可以用来使超导体结对特定波长的光敏感。制备了具有快速响应时间、高灵敏度和选择性波长响应特性的光敏组件。这种体系的光谱响应行为与染料层所表现出的吸光度特性有很好的相关性。由于可以将具有不同光谱和光物理性质的大量染料合并到这样的系统中，因此可以从分子水平上制备大量定制的结构，以适应各种不同的应用。根据染料的光物理性质，可以形成在染料和超导体之间促进快速和直接的能量转移的系统。其他系统可以通过热波从染料到超导体的传播来发挥作用。此外，注入“热”（即非平衡）电子也可以设想为在超导体中诱导可测量的电响应的替代方法。利用高取向薄膜结构，可以首次探索与激发染料和超导界面之间能量和电子转移现象效率相关的有趣问题。通过评价染料沉积前后的超导体界面性质，可以获得与分子染料组分与铜酸盐化合物之间的化学相容性有关的重要信息。从拟议的研究中，预计将获得以下信息：将确定构建染料超导体组件的可靠方法。2)。探讨分子层与高温超导体的化学相容性。这些信息不仅有助于光学器件的发展，也有助于传统高tc薄膜器件的更快发展。3)。将获得与染料-超导体能量转移过程有关的初始信息。4)。对热波、热电子注入和直接偶极耦合能量传递过程的效率进行了评价。5)。将评估包含发光（荧光和磷光），非发光，光导，电致变色和光致变色染料结构的系统，以识别和探索各种分子/超导体通信通道。6)。这个高度跨学科的项目不仅旨在发展一个新的科学领域的知识基础，而且还将在一个具有重要战略意义的领域为未来的科学家提供一个极好的培训基地。描述了针对染料/超导体组件的设计，制造和表征的广泛程序。研究者实验室完成的工作已经证明，许多染料系统可以与超导体薄膜元件结合使用，以生产各种光学敏感组件，这些组件可以选择性地响应不同波长的光。超导体的利用产生了在光捕获染料层和超导体之间发生非常有效的能量转移的结构。各种分子体系的使用提供了制备大量光学元件的机会。Y敏感结构，可以从分子水平定制各种应用。对染料/超导体组件的研究将产生与更有效的处理方法相关的有用信息，这些方法可用于更快地实现高tc器件的商业化。此外，染料/超导体平台应该为探索染料/染料和染料/超导体的能量和电子转移现象提供方便的手段。混合超导组件以可控方式感知不同波长光的能力可能对超导传感器和设备的未来应用产生重要影响。

9631394 McDevitt This research focuses on the design, fabrication and study of dye-superconductor assemblies. These dyesuperconductor systems are sensitive to the influence of light, making cryogenic optical switching processes possible. Initial work has shown that molecular dyes can be used to sensitize superconductor junctions to specific wavelengths of light. Optically sensitive assemblies which display rapid response time, high sensitivity and selective wavelength response characteristics have been prepared. The spectral response behavior of such systems correlate well with the absorbance properties exhibited by the dye layer. Since a large number of dyes with different spectral and photophysical properties can be incorporated into such systems, it is possible to prepare a plethora of structures which are tailored from the molecular level so as to suit a variety of different applications. Depending on the photophysical properties of the dye, systems which foster rapid and direct energy transfer between the dye and the superconductor can be fashioned. Other systems can be prepared which function through the propagation of thermal waves from the dye to the superconductor. Moreover, injection of "hot" (i.e. nonequilibrium) electrons can also be envisioned as an alternative method to induce a measurable electrical response in the superconductor. Interesting issues related to the efficiency of energy and electron transfer phenomena between excited dyes and superconducting interfaces can be explored for the first time with the use of highly oriented thin film structures. Important information related to the chemical compatibility between the molecular dye components and the cuprate compounds can be acquired through an evaluation of the superconductor interfacial properties before and after dye deposition. From the proposed studies, the following information is anticipated: 1.) Reliable methods to construct dye-superconductor assemblies will be identified. 2.) Che mical compatibility of molecular layers and high-Tc superconductors will be explored. This information will be useful not only for the development of the optical devices, but also will contribute to the more rapid development of traditional high-Tc thin film devices. 3.) The initial information related to dye-superconductor energy transfer processes will be obtained. 4.) The efficiencies of thermal wave, hot electron injection and direct dipole coupling energy transfer processes will evaluated. 5.) Systems which incorporate luminescent (fluorescent and phosphorescent), nonluminescent, photoconductive, electrochromic and photochromic dye structures will be evaluated to identify and to explore the various molecule/superconductor communication channels. 6.) This highly interdisciplinary program will not only target the development of a knowledge base in a novel new field of science, but will also serve as an excellent training grounds for future scientists in a strategically important area. %%% A broad program which targets the design, fabrication and characterization of dye/superconductor assemblies is described. Work completed in the Investigator's laboratory has already demonstrated that a number of dye systems can be used in combination with superconductor thin film elements to produce a variety of optically sensitive assemblies that respond selectively to different wavelengths of light. The utilization of the superconductors yield structures where very efficient energy transfer between the light harvesting dye layer and the superconductor occurs. The use of various molecular systems affords the opportunity to prepare a plethora of optical!y sensitive structures that can be tailored from the molecular level for a variety of applications. Studies of the dye/superconductor assemblies will yield useful information related to more effective processing methods that can be used for the more rapid commercialization of high-Tc devices. Moreover, the dye/superconductor platform should provide a convenient means to explore dye/dye and dye/superconductor energy and electron transfer phenomena. The ability of a hybrid superconducting assembly to sense different wavelengths of light in a controllable fashion may have important consequences for future application of superconducting sensors and devices.