Plasmon-Assisted Direction- and Polarization-Sensitive Organic Thin-Film Detector

Abstract

Utilizing Bragg surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on metal nanostructures for the use in optical devices has been intensively investigated in recent years. Here, we demonstrate the integration of nanostructured metal electrodes into an ITO-free thin film bulk heterojunction organic solar cell, by direct fabrication on a nanoimprinted substrate. The nanostructured device shows interesting optical and electrical behavior, depending on angle and polarization of incidence and the side of excitation. Remarkably, for incidence through the top electrode, a dependency on linear polarization and angle of incidence can be observed. We show that these peculiar characteristics can be attributed to the excitation of dispersive and non-dispersive Bragg SPPs on the metal–dielectric interface on the top electrode and compare it with incidence through the bottom electrode. Furthermore, the optical and electrical response can be controlled by the organic photoactive material, the nanostructures, the materials used for the electrodes and the epoxy encapsulation. Our device can be used as a detector, which generates a direct electrical readout and therefore enables the measuring of the angle of incidence of up to 60° or the linear polarization state of light, in a spectral region, which is determined by the active material. Our results could furthermore lead to novel organic Bragg SPP-based sensor for a number of applications.

Editorial for Special Issue: Nanoimprint Lithography Technology and Applications

“…One of the exciting things about nanoimprinting is the big versatility of the process and the broad range of applications it can be used for. This special issue includes 10 articles [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] which represent a small glimpse of the challenges and possibilities of this technology.…”

“…Six contributions deal with nanoimprint processes aiming at specific applications [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], while the other four papers focus on more general aspects of nanoimprint processes [ 3 , 5 , 7 ] or present novel materials [ 1 , 3 ]. Several different types of nanoimprint processes are used: plate-to-plate [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 10 ], roll-to-plate [ 4 , 6 ], and roll-to-roll [ 8 ]. Plate-to-plate NIL here also includes the use of soft and flexible stamps.…”

“…In [ 2 ] by Haslinger et al organic thin-film detectors are discussed. A novel device concept is presented making use of a nanoimprinted substrate.…”

“…In summary the application fields in this special issue can be identified as plasmonics [ 2 ], superhydrophibicity [ 4 ], biomimetics [ 4 , 9 , 10 ], optics/datacom [ 6 ], and life sciences [ 8 ]. The nanoimprint process related papers discuss filling and wetting aspects during nanoimprinting [ 3 , 5 , 7 ] as well as materials for stamps [ 3 ] and imprinting [ 1 ].…”

Thin Film Materials and Devices

“…Thus, the unique surface phenomena for thin film materials have created many interdisciplinary science and engineering areas, ranging from chemistry, physics, electronics, and biology to engineering. [1] Thin film materials and technologies (in nano and microscale) have served as enabling technology in diverse fields, such as catalysts for environmental applications and CO2 capture and conversion; [2][3][4] antibacterial applications; [5] enhanced mechanical strength; semiconductor; [6] improved energy efficiency for solar cells [7,8] and energy storage devices, [8,10] sensors, [11] light-emitting devices, [12][13][14] electrochromism, [15,16] and so on.…”