Theoretical and Experimental Design of Multifunctional Plasmonic Electrodes for Polymer-Based Optoelectronics

技术描述：等离子体近场可用于提高有机共轭聚合物半导体材料中激子的产生或发射速率。然而，为了在基于共轭聚合物的光电子器件中引入等离子体效应，控制和稳定等离子体结构的表面电子性质是重要的。该项目的目标是开发多功能等离子体电极的设计原则：(1)光学活性；(2)电荷载流子收集/注入效率；(3)在环境条件下稳定；(4)与有机聚合物光电应用的可扩展纳米制造路线兼容。等离子体电极由垂直取向的金属纳米棒阵列组成，该阵列支持表面等离子体，并且没有涂层或具有超薄(天然)金属氧化物涂层来调节表面功函数，消除了对额外的空穴传输/电子阻挡层的需要，减轻了激子猝灭，并提高了在环境条件下的性能寿命。非技术描述：在该项目中开发的电极，提供光管理能力，并表现出稳定的，可控的表面电子性能，有望实现更高效和更耐用的有机聚合物光电子器件，使它们在能源效率和发电应用中更可行。项目活动还将材料科学和工程以及化学与教育领域的跨学科研究结合在一起，使地方和州立项目(如罗格斯科学与工程研究项目、罗格斯大学绿色能源技术REU项目和新泽西州州长工程技术学院)的本科生能够与研究生研究人员一起为项目目标而工作。更多的项目活动继续支持、鼓励和保持研究团队和更广泛的科学界的多样性；并将参与高中强化活动作为罗格斯大学外展计划的一部分。

Technical Description: Plasmonic near-fields can be used to increase exciton generation or emission rate in organic conjugated polymer semiconductor materials. However, to incorporate plasmonic effects in conjugated polymer-based optoelectronic devices, it is important to control and stabilize the surface electronic properties of the plasmonic structure. The goal of this project is to develop design principles for multifunctional plasmonic electrodes that are: (1) optically active; (2) efficient at charge carrier collection/injection; (3) stable under ambient conditions; and (4) compatible with scalable nanofabrication routes for organic polymer optoelectronic applications. The plasmonic electrodes consist of vertically-oriented metal nanorod arrays that support surface plasmons and that are either uncoated or have an ultra-thin (native) metal oxide coating to tune the surface work function, eliminate the need for additional hole transport/electron blocking layers, mitigate exciton quenching, and improve performance lifetime in ambient conditions.Non-technical Description: The electrodes developed in this project, that provide light management capabilities and that exhibit stable, controllable surface electronic properties, are expected to enable both more efficient and more durable organic polymer-based optoelectronic devices, making them more viable for energy efficiency and generation applications. The project activities also combine interdisciplinary research in materials science and engineering, and chemistry with education by enabling undergraduate students from local and state programs (such as Rutgers Research in Science and Engineering program, Rutgers' Green Energy Technology REU program and the New Jersey Governor's School of Engineering and Technology) to work alongside graduate researchers on the goals of the project. Additional project activities continue to support, encourage and maintain diversity in the research team and in the broader scientific community; and incorporate participation in high-school enrichment as part of Rutgers' outreach programs.