Uli Lemmer

Aggregate fluorescence in conjugated polymers

Abstract We study the dynamics of optical excitations in solid films of ladder-type poly(para-phenylene) (LPPP). A low-energy emission band is observed in the photoluminescence spectrum of solid films of this π-conjugated polymer, which is absent in LPPP solutions. We show that the low-energy luminescence can be attributed to aggregates between subunits of the polymer chains. Energy transfer into aggregate states strongly affects the dynamics of excitations in solid LPPP. We further discuss the influence of non-radiative defects on the dynamics.

Conjugated Polymers: Lasing and Stimulated Emission

Abstract The discovery of gain narrowing in electroluminescent conjugated polymers has launched a new field of research aiming towards polymer-based injection lasers. Especially poly( para -phenylene vinylene)- (PPV) and poly( para -phenylene)- (PPP) -type polymers have been applied as active materials. Time-resolved measurements have unravelled the photophysics for low and high excitation levels. If suited resonator configurations of the device are used (e.g. microcavity, microring, microdisc, distributed feedback and distributed Bragg resonators) optically pumped single mode laser emission can be observed for moderate excitation levels. These results represent an important step towards the realisation of future ‘all-plastics’ injection lasers. Conjugated polymer laser devices might lead to novel applications in measurement instrumentation and information technology which rely on large area emitters and geometries not accessible to conventional inorganic laser materials.

Multicolor Silicon Light-Emitting Diodes (SiLEDs)

We present highly efficient electroluminescent devices using size-separated silicon nanocrystals (ncSi) as light emitting material. The emission color can be tuned from the deep red down to the yellow-orange spectral region by using very monodisperse size-separated nanoparticles. High external quantum efficiencies up to 1.1% as well as low turn-on voltages are obtained for red emitters. In addition, we demonstrate that size-separation of ncSi leads to drastically improved lifetimes of the devices and much less sensitivity of the emission wavelength to the applied drive voltage.

A Nearly Diffraction Limited Surface Emitting Conjugated Polymer Laser Utilizing a Two-Dimensional Photonic Band Structure

We have fabricated a mechanically flexible conjugated polymer laser utilizing distributed feedback due to a two-dimensional photonic band structure. An ultraviolet-embossing process is used for nanopatterning a plastic substrate. On top we spin-coat a ladder-type poly(p-phenylene) as the active laser medium. Upon optical pumping, we observe a low threshold and nearly diffraction limited monomode laser emission perpendicular to the surface. Our results are explained within a Laue formulation for the feedback mechanism in the two-dimensional organic photonic crystal.

Very compact tunable solid-state laser utilizing a thin-film organic semiconductor

Optically pumped organic semiconductor lasers are fabricated by evaporation of a thin film of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) molecularly doped with a laser dye on top of a polyester substrate with an embossed grating structure. We achieve low-threshold, longitudinally monomode distributed-feedback laser operation. By varying the film thickness of the organic semiconductor film, we can tune the wavelength of the surface-emitting laser over 44 nm. The low laser threshold allows the use of a very compact all-solid-state pump laser ( approximately 10 cm long). This concept opens up a way to obtain inexpensive lasers that are tunable over the whole visible range.

Preparation of Monodisperse Silicon Nanocrystals Using Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation

We report the preparation of monodisperse silicon nanocrystals (ncSi) by size-separation of polydisperse alkyl-capped ncSi using organic density gradient ultracentrifugation. The ncSi were synthesized by thermal processing of trichlorosilane-derived sol-gel glasses followed by HF etching and surface passivation with alkyl chains and were subsequently fractionated by size using a self-generating density gradient of 40 wt % 2,4,6-tribromotoluene in chlorobenzene. The isolated monodisperse fractions were characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and determined to have polydispersity index values between 1.04 and 1.06. The ability to isolate monodisperse ncSi will allow for the quantification of the size-dependent structural, optical, electrical, and biological properties of silicon, which will undoubtedly prove useful for tailoring property-specific optoelectronic and biomedical devices.

Enhanced Electron Injection into Inverted Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes by Combined Solution‐Processed Zinc Oxide/Polyethylenimine Interlayers

Inverted device architectures for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) require suitable interfaces or buffer layers to enhance electron injection from highwork-function transparent electrodes. A solution-processable combination of ZnO and PEI is reported, that facilitates electron injection and enables efficient and air-stable inverted devices. Replacing the metal anode by highly conductive polymers enables transparent OLEDs.

The influence of annihilation processes on the threshold current density of organic laser diodes

We examine the impact of various annihilation processes on the laser threshold current density of a multilayer organic laser diode by numerical simulation. Our self-consistent numerical model treats the dynamics of electrons, holes, and singlet as well as triplet excitons in the framework of a drift-diffusion model. The resulting particle distributions enter into an optical model. In our approach, a three layer waveguide structure is taken into account and the resulting laser rate equations are solved. Various annihilation processes are included as reactions between the different particle species in the device employing typical annihilation rates and material properties of organic semiconductors. By systematically varying the device dimensions and the annihilation rate coefficients, the dominating quenching processes are identified. The threshold current density is found to depend sensitively on the thickness of the emission layer. The influence of annihilation processes on the threshold current density i...

Organic tandem solar cells comprising polymer and small-molecule subcells

In this work the authors report monolithic organic tandem solar cells. The front cell is fabricated from a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester while a copper phthalocyanine/fullerene (CuPc∕C60) bilayer is used for the back cell. An intermediate recombination zone is realized using two doped organic semiconductor layers and a thin noble metal interlayer. The active polymer layer thickness is optimized to ensure matching of the subcell currents. The open circuit voltage Voc=1V nearly reaches the sum of the open circuit voltages of each contributing cell.

Solution processed, white emitting tandem organic light-emitting diodes with inverted device architecture.

Fully solution processed monochromatic and white-light emitting tandem or multi-photon polymer OLEDs with an inverted device architecture have been realized by employing WO3 /PEDOT:PSS/ZnO/PEI charge carrier generation layers. The luminance of the sub-OLEDs adds up in the stacked device indicating multi-photon emission. The white OLEDs exhibit a CRI of 75.