Exciton-induced Degradation of Interfaces in Organic Optoelectronic Devices

在过去的二十年里，人们对有机半导体光电子器件产生了浓厚的兴趣，这些器件被用于各种应用，包括固态照明、平板显示器和太阳能电池。这种兴趣是由有机半导体具有的许多关键优势所推动的，例如：(I)可以获得多种颜色的发光；(Ii)更容易和更便宜的制造，包括能够在不同的衬底和大面积上制造它们；以及(Iii)它们实现下一代电子设备的机械柔性和透明器件的独特能力[1-3]。尽管这些材料具有许多优点，但有机发光器件(OLED)、有机太阳能电池(OSC)等器件与传统材料相比，其耐用性一般较低。我们最近发现，无论是来自外部来源的光，如OSC的情况，还是暴露于设备本身产生的光，如OLED，都会导致这些设备的显著变化，特别是在不同材料之间的界面上。这种以前不为人知的现象似乎是这些设备效率迅速下降的原因。这项拟议的研究旨在揭示这种现象背后的因素，并开发控制它们的方法，从而提高设备的使用寿命。这项研究将利用申请人开创的一些实验技术，并将建立在他以前在这一领域的工作成果的基础上。研究结果将对未来开发更稳定的OLED和OSC至关重要，这将与加拿大的工业合作伙伴合作进行。因此，它将在下一代电子和能源转换设备具有巨大潜力的新兴技术方面为这些合作伙伴提供竞争优势。这项研究还将允许培训一批新的加拿大研究人员，他们将获得一项新兴技术方面的专业知识，这项技术有可能带来新产品和市场机会。

The last two decades have witnessed a strong interest in organic semiconductor-based optoelectronic devices for utilization in various applications including solid state lighting, flat panel displays and solar cells. This interest is motivated by a number of key advantages that organic semiconductors have, such as (i) the possibility to obtain light emission in a wide range of colors (ii) easier and cheaper fabrication including the ability to fabricate them on different substrates and in large areas, and (iii) their unique ability to realize mechanically flexible and transparent devices for next generation electronics [1-3]. Despite their advantages, devices utilizing these materials, such as Organic Light Emitting Devices (OLEDs), Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) generally have lower durability in comparison to those based on traditional materials. We recently discovered that exposure to light, either from external sources, as in the case of OSCs, or to light produced by the device itself, as in the case of OLEDs, causes significant changes in these devices, especially at interfaces between different materials. This previously unknown phenomenon appears to be responsible for the fast deterioration in efficiency in these devices. The proposed research aims to uncover the factors behind this phenomenon and to develop approaches to control them, thus improve device service life. The research will utilize a number of experimental techniques pioneered by the applicant and will build on findings from his previous work in this area. The research results will be critical for future development of more stable OLEDs and OSCs, which will be pursued in collaboration with Canadian industrial partners. It will, therefore, provide those partners with a competitive edge in an emerging technology of tremendous potential for next generation electronics and energy conversion devices. The research will also allow training of a new "breed" of Canadian researchers who will acquire expertise in an emerging technology that has the potential to enable new products and market opportunities.