Optoelectronic Components Using Low Refractive Index Films

ECCS-0725615E。伦斯勒理工学院舒伯特：由艾萨克·牛顿首先提出的折射率是光学科学中最基本的物理量。该计划的智力价值在于开发了一种具有前所未有的低折射率的新型光学薄膜材料，并将这些薄膜材料用于两个特定的器件应用：太阳能电池和发光二极管。每种类型的设备都将被涂覆上高度透光的渐变折射率层。在多层光学薄膜结构中，许多品质因数取决于折射率对比度，即高折射率材料和低折射率材料之间的折射率差。因此，如果有折射率接近自由空间折射率的材料，许多光电子元件将得到强有力的改进。然而，传统的致密光学材料的折射率被限制在高于1.4的值。折射率在n=1.05？1.20范围内的可行材料尚不存在，但会引起人们极大的兴趣。更广泛的影响：除了科学影响外，拟议中的计划还将具有强大的教育成分。该计划的教育目标是(I)培训和促进研究生的智力成长，(Ii)提高本科生，特别是国内本科生的兴趣，并让这些学生参与前沿研究，以及(Iii)增加代表性不足和弱势群体的参与。能够参与新的研究方向和在设备中应用新的光学材料，为学生提供了在一个新的、跨学科的、潜在的高影响力领域接受教育和培训的绝佳机会。此外，低折射率材料将有助于太阳能电池的无污染发电和固态照明设备的高效用电。

ECCS-0725615E. Schubert, Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteIntellectual merit: The refractive index, first introduced by Isaac Newton, is the most fundamental quantity in optical sciences. The intellectual merit of the proposed program lies in the development of a new class of optical thin-film materials with unprecedented low refractive index and in the employment of these thin-film materials in two specific device applications: Solar cells and light-emitting diodes. Each type of device will be coated with highly light-transmissive graded-index layers. Numerous figures of merit in multilayer optical thin-film structures depend on the refractive index contrast, that is, the difference in refractive index between a high- and a low-index material. Thus, many optoelectronic components could be strongly improved if materials with a refractive index close to that of free space would be available. However, the refractive index of conventional dense optical materials is limited to values higher than 1.4. Viable materials with refractive indices in a range n = 1.05?1.20 do not yet exist, but would be of tremendous interest. Broader impact: In addition to the scientific impact, the proposed program would have a strong educational component. The educational goals of the program are (i) training and furthering of the intellectual growth of graduate students, (ii) raising the interest of undergraduate students, particularly of domestic undergraduate students, and involvement of these students in leading-edge research, and (iii) increased participation of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups. The ability to participate in a new direction of research and in the application of new optical materials in devices provides an excellent opportunity for students to be educated and trained in a novel, interdisciplinary, and potentially high-impact field. Furthermore, low-refractive-index materials will contribute to the pollution-free generation of electricity by solar cells and the highly efficient use of electricity in solid-state lighting devices.