Collaborative: Engineered Nonlinear Optical Materials Based on Hybrid Nanocomposites

技术：纽约市立大学皇后学院和密歇根大学的合作研究项目旨在开发一种新型非线性光学材料，该材料结合了有机、无机和金属系统的优势。本文研究了由杂化激子组成的复合结构，这些杂化激子具有高振子强度（类有机）、低饱和功率（类无机）和准粒子（激子-等离子激子极化子）的非线性光学特性，这些准粒子是由无机激子和金属纳米粒子的等离子激子之间的强相互作用形成的。该研究项目预计将通过(i)在有机-无机界面上Frenkel和Wannier-Mott激子的偶极-偶极相互作用以及（ii）使用层状纳米复合几何结构的金属纳米粒子的无机激子和等离子体激子之间的强耦合来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了材料的非线性光学性质和形态。非技术：该项目涉及材料科学主题领域的基础研究问题，具有高技术相关性。本课题的研究成果将通过探索一类新的工程非线性光学材料，为非线性光学领域做出重大贡献。除了高效的全光开关元件、成像、光谱和二次谐波产生等潜在应用之外，这些材料还可能为量子信息学的跨学科领域做出贡献。该合作项目还为来自不同背景和种族的研究生、本科生和高中生提供培训、创造研究机会，并帮助他们培养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.