A solution processed flexible nanocomposite electrode with efficient light extraction for organic light emitting diodes.

Highly efficient organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on multiple layers of vapor evaporated small molecules, indium tin oxide transparent electrode, and glass substrate have been extensively investigated and are being commercialized. The light extraction from the exciton radiative decay is limited to less than 30% due to plasmonic quenching on the metallic cathode and the waveguide in the multi-layer sandwich structure. Here we report a flexible nanocomposite electrode comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires stacked and embedded in the surface of a polymer substrate. Nanoparticles of barium strontium titanate are dispersed within the substrate to enhance light extraction efficiency. Green polymer OLED (PLEDs) fabricated on the nanocomposite electrode exhibit a maximum current efficiency of 118 cd/A at 10,000 cd/m(2) with the calculated external quantum efficiency being 38.9%. The efficiencies of white PLEDs are 46.7 cd/A and 30.5%, respectively. The devices can be bent to 3 mm radius repeatedly without significant loss of electroluminescent performance. The nanocomposite electrode could pave the way to high-efficiency flexible OLEDs with simplified device structure and low fabrication cost

Preparation of multiblock copolymers via step-wise addition of l-lactide and trimethylene carbonate.

Poly(l-lactide) (PLA) is a bioderived and biodegradable polymer that has limited applications due to its hard and brittle nature. Incorporation of 1,3-trimethylene carbonate into PLA, in a block copolymer fashion, improves the mechanical properties, while retaining the biodegradability of the polymer, and broadens its range of applications. However, the preparation of 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC)/l-lactide (LA) copolymers beyond diblock and triblock structures has not been reported, with explanations focusing mostly on thermodynamic reasons that impede the copolymerization of TMC after lactide. We discuss the preparation of multiblock copolymers via the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of LA and TMC, in a step-wise addition, by a ferrocene-chelating heteroscorpionate zinc complex, {[fc(PPh2)(BH[(3,5-Me)2pz]2)]Zn(μ-OCH2Ph)}2 ([(fcP,B)Zn(μ-OCH2Ph)]2, fc = 1,1'-ferrocenediyl, pz = pyrazole). The synthesis of up to pentablock copolymers, from various combinations of LA and TMC, was accomplished and the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the resulting copolymers evaluated

Intrinsically stretchable and transparent thin-film transistors based on printable silver nanowires, carbon nanotubes and an elastomeric dielectric.

Thin-film field-effect transistor is a fundamental component behind various mordern electronics. The development of stretchable electronics poses fundamental challenges in developing new electronic materials for stretchable thin-film transistors that are mechanically compliant and solution processable. Here we report the fabrication of transparent thin-film transistors that behave like an elastomer film. The entire fabrication is carried out by solution-based techniques, and the resulting devices exhibit a mobility of ∼30 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), on/off ratio of 10(3)-10(4), switching current >100 μA, transconductance >50 μS and relative low operating voltages. The devices can be stretched by up to 50% strain and subjected to 500 cycles of repeated stretching to 20% strain without significant loss in electrical property. The thin-film transistors are also used to drive organic light-emitting diodes. The approach and results represent an important progress toward the development of stretchable active-matrix displays

Tactile feedback display with spatial and temporal resolutions.

We report the electronic recording of the touch contact and pressure using an active matrix pressure sensor array made of transparent zinc oxide thin-film transistors and tactile feedback display using an array of diaphragm actuators made of an interpenetrating polymer elastomer network. Digital replay, editing and manipulation of the recorded touch events were demonstrated with both spatial and temporal resolutions. Analog reproduction of the force is also shown possible using the polymer actuators, despite of the high driving voltage. The ability to record, store, edit, and replay touch information adds an additional dimension to digital technologies and extends the capabilities of modern information exchange with the potential to revolutionize physical learning, social networking, e-commerce, robotics, gaming, medical and military applications

Metal-slotted polymer optical waveguide device

Metal-slotted optical waveguides (MSOWs) using an electro-optic polymer material have been experimentally demonstrated. The device consists of a three-layered slab waveguide in that the thin metal (gold) film strips are embedded on top of the lower cladding. The optical mode shapes and effective index of the propagation modes of the proposed waveguide structure were calculated using a simplified effective index method and a simulation tool. The fabrication and the device characteristics of a variable optical attenuator and an optical phase modulator based on MSOWs are discussed.open5

Plasmonic organic solar cell and its absorption enhancement analysis using cylindrical Ag nano-particle model based on finite difference time domain (FDTD)

We report the plasmon-assisted photocurrent enhancement in Ag nanoparticles (NPs)-embedded PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells, and theoretically investigate the causes of the improved optical absorption based on a cylindrical Ag-NPs model which is simulated with a finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The proposed cylindrical Ag-NPs model is able to explain the optical absorption enhancement by the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modes, and to provide a further understanding of Ag-NPs shape parameters which play an important role to determine the broadband absorption phenomena in plasmonic organic solar cells

Absorption and transport enhancement by Ag nanoparticle plasmonics for organic optoelectronics

The organic films such as P3HT/PCBM incorporating Ag metal nanoparticles are fabricated and experimentally characterized. Due to the excited surface plasma induced by Ag metal nanoparticles, the absorption of the active organic material layer is increased by around 30%. The broadened absorption spectrum to the 260-650nm wavelength range is also observed from our measurements because of the enhanced scattering cross section by Ag metal nanoparticles. Furthermore, by incorporating Ag nanoparticles into the active layer, the mobility have also been improved. Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations confirm the increase in transmission of electromagnetic radiation at visible wavelength. The hopping model is proposed to explain the transport mechanism for the device operations. These observations suggest a variety of approaches for improving the performance of general organic optoelectronic devices