Nanoscale interfaces in organic electronic and optoelectronic materials

有机材料为传统半导体提供了一种有趣的替代品，因为它们可以为电子产品，显示器和太阳能转换提供低成本，重量轻，灵活的组件，生产所需的能源相对较少。通过化学改性也可以引入巨大的可变性，基于相对较少，丰富的元素创建大量的材料。然而，分子组分在电荷载流子的传导、光激发和在器件中固有必要的界面处发生的相互作用方面表现得与传统半导体不同。这些材料对局部环境的变化高度敏感，大自然通过对活性成分周围环境的精细控制来处理这些变化。在设计用于电子和光电应用的有机材料时，这就引出了一个问题：我们能否以同样的方式设计出能够控制关键界面和环境的人工材料？

Organic materials offer an intriguing alternative to traditional semiconductors as they could provide low cost, light-weight, flexible components for electronics, displays and solar energy conversion that require comparatively little energy to produce. Great variability can also be introduced through chemical modification, creating a vast palette of materials based on relatively few, abundant elements. However, molecular components behave differently than traditional semiconductors in terms of conduction of charge carriers, optical excitation and interactions occurring at interfaces inherently necessary in devices. These materials are highly sensitive to variations in the local environment, which nature deals with through exquisite control over the surroundings of active components. In the design of organic materials for electronic and optoelectronic applications, this begs the question: can we design artificial materials with control over key interfaces and the environment in the same way?