Collaborative: Engineered Nonlinear Optical Materials Based on Hybrid Nanocomposites

技术支持：纽约市立大学皇后学院和密歇根大学的这一合作研究项目旨在开发一类新的非线性光学材料，该材料将有机，无机和金属系统的优点联合收割机结合在一起。研究了包含杂化激子的复合结构，所述杂化激子具有大振子强度（有机类）、低饱和功率（无机类）和准粒子（激子-等离子体激元）的期望的非线性光学性质，所述准粒子通过无机激子和金属纳米颗粒的等离子体激元之间的强相互作用形成。该研究项目预计将通过（i）Frenkel和Wannier-Mott激子在有机-无机界面上的偶极-偶极相互作用以及（ii）无机激子与金属纳米颗粒等离子体之间的强耦合实现这些杂化材料系统。使用各种光谱和结构表征技术研究材料的非线性光学特性和形态。非技术性：该项目涉及具有高技术相关性的材料科学主题领域的基础研究问题。该研究项目的成功将为非线性光学领域做出重大贡献，探索一类新的工程非线性光学材料。除了潜在的应用，如高效的全光开关元件，成像，光谱学和二次谐波产生，这些材料可以潜在地有助于量子信息学的跨学科领域。该合作项目还培训，创造研究机会，并帮助培养来自不同背景和种族的研究生，本科生和高中生对科学和工程的兴趣。

Technical: This collaborative research project at CUNY Queens College and University of Michigan aims to develop a new class of nonlinear optical materials that combine the advantages of organic, inorganic and metallic systems. Composite structures comprising hybridized excitons that have the desirable nonlinear optical properties of large oscillator strength (organic like), low saturation power (inorganic like), and quasiparticles (exciton-plasmon polaritons) that form through the strong interaction between inorganic excitons and plasmons of metal nanoparticles are investigated. The research project is expected to realize these hybridized materials systems through (i) dipole-dipole interaction of the Frenkel and Wannier-Mott excitons at the organic-inorganic interface and (ii) strong coupling between inorganic excitons and plasmons of metal nanoparticles using layered nanocomposite geometry. Nonlinear optical properties and morphology of the materials are investigated using a variety of spectroscopic and structural characterization techniques.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with high technological relevance. A successful outcome of this research project will make substantial contributions to the field of nonlinear optics by exploring a new class of engineered nonlinear optical materials. Besides potential applications such as efficient all-optical switching elements, imaging, spectroscopy and second harmonic generation, these materials can potentially contribute to the interdisciplinary field of quantum informatics. The collaborative project also trains, creates research opportunities, and helps instill interest in science and engineering for graduate, undergraduate and high school students, from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.