Nanoscale interfaces in organic electronic and optoelectronic materials

有机材料为传统半导体提供了一种耐人寻味的替代品，因为它们可以为电子产品、显示器和太阳能转换提供成本低、重量轻、灵活的组件，而这些组件生产所需的能源相对较少。通过化学修饰也可以引入巨大的可变性，在相对较少、丰富的元素的基础上创造出大量的材料调色板。然而，在电荷载流子的传导、光激发和发生在器件固有必需的界面上的相互作用方面，分子组件的行为不同于传统半导体。这些材料对当地环境的变化高度敏感，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。在电子和光电子应用的有机材料设计中，这回避了一个问题：我们能否设计出对关键接口和环境具有相同控制能力的人造材料？

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?