Exciton-induced Degradation of Interfaces in Organic Optoelectronic Devices

近二十年来，人们对基于有机半导体的光电子器件产生了浓厚的兴趣，这些器件可用于各种应用，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激发的，例如（i）获得宽范围颜色的光发射的可能性（ii）更容易和更便宜的制造，包括在不同衬底上和大面积制造它们的能力，以及（iii）它们实现下一代电子产品的机械柔性和透明器件的独特能力。尽管它们具有优点，但是与基于传统材料的那些相比，利用这些材料的器件（诸如有机发光器件（OLED）、有机太阳能电池（OSC））通常具有较低的耐久性。我们最近发现，暴露于光，无论是从外部来源，如在OSC的情况下，或由设备本身产生的光，如在OLED的情况下，导致这些设备中的显着变化，特别是在不同材料之间的界面。这种以前未知的现象似乎是这些设备效率快速下降的原因。该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。七名研究生将参与这项研究。研究结果将对未来开发更稳定的OLED和OSC至关重要，这将与加拿大工业合作伙伴合作进行。因此，它将为这些合作伙伴提供竞争优势，在下一代电子和能源转换设备方面具有巨大潜力的新兴技术。这项研究还将培训一批新的加拿大研究人员，他们将获得一种新兴技术的专门知识，这种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. 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 case of OSCs, or to light produced by the device itself, as in 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. Seven graduate students will participate in this research. 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.