Ultrafast optical control of molecular nanodevices
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
The aim of this project is to observe and harness the dynamics of the excited state in molecular and nanocrystal-based electronic materials and devices. The project will involve the development of a novel experimental system, which will use ultrafast IR light pulses to control the electronic dynamics of the excited state and vibrational motions of the molecules inside the active layer of the nanodevices. The effect of the low-energy optical excitation on the performance of the devices will be evaluated to uncover various fundamental aspects of charge dynamics and how these aspects can be used in molecular/plastic electronic applications. The results of this work will be instrumental in improving the functionality of molecular and quantum dot nanomaterials and optoelectronic systems.
Organisations
Publications
Weu A
(2018)
Field-Assisted Exciton Dissociation in Highly Efficient PffBT4T-2OD:Fullerene Organic Solar Cells
in Chemistry of Materials
Zhang J
(2018)
Efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells employing sequentially deposited donor-acceptor layers
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Qian D
(2018)
Design rules for minimizing voltage losses in high-efficiency organic solar cells.
in Nature materials
Hopper TR
(2018)
Ultrafast Intraband Spectroscopy of Hot-Carrier Cooling in Lead-Halide Perovskites.
in ACS energy letters
Nübling F
(2019)
Block Junction-Functionalized All-Conjugated Donor-Acceptor Block Copolymers.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Hopper T
(2019)
Control of Donor-Acceptor Photophysics through Structural Modification of a "Twisting" Push-Pull Molecule
in Chemistry of Materials
Vezie M
(2019)
Impact of Marginal Exciton-Charge-Transfer State Offset on Charge Generation and Recombination in Polymer:Fullerene Solar Cells
in ACS Energy Letters
Hopper TR
(2020)
Hot Carrier Dynamics in Perovskite Nanocrystal Solids: Role of the Cold Carriers, Nanoconfinement, and the Surface.
in Nano letters
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509486/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2022 | |||
| 1829348 | Studentship | EP/N509486/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/01/2020 | Thomas Hopper |
| Description | During the course of this award, an ultrafast optics setup was developed for the purpose of novel "multi-pulse" spectroscopic experiments to investigate the fate of electronic charges in a range of emerging organic and hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors for solar energy conversion. By understanding how charges behave in these materials on ultrafast timescales, we attained molecular-level details which can be potentially exploited to develop new materials and devices with enhanced properties. These findings have been published in a number of high-profile journals and disseminated at international conferences. |
| Exploitation Route | The insights provided by our ultrafast experiments could aid synthetic chemists and materials scientists involved in the fabrication and engineering of high-performance optoelectronic devices based on solution-processable semiconductors. Additionally, the "multi-pulse" methodologies that we have developed may be extended to study other light-matter interactions and photophysical phenomena in different emerging materials systems. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Environment |