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Emission waveguiding in organic thin films supported by metal
Applied Optics
|February 4, 2017
Summary
Organic semiconductor rubrene thin films on silver exhibit angle-dependent, spectrally narrowed photoluminescence. This phenomenon is due to waveguided modes leaking from the rubrene layer, enhanced by the silver substrate.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optoelectronics
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Organic semiconductors offer tunable electronic and optical properties.
- Thin film structures are crucial for device applications.
- Photoluminescence (PL) is a key optical characterization technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photoluminescence characteristics of rubrene thin films on silver.
- To understand the role of the silver substrate in modifying PL spectra.
- To explore the influence of emission angle on PL properties.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of rubrene thin films on silver and glass substrates.
- Angle-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy.
- Polarization analysis of emitted light.
Main Results:
- Rubrene on silver showed spectrally narrowing PL with increasing emission angle.
- PL spectra exhibited polarization characteristics.
- Sharp PL peaks were observed in the side emission direction.
- Observed phenomena were linked to waveguided modes and phase-matching conditions.
Conclusions:
- The silver substrate supports waveguided modes in the rubrene layer.
- Leaked waveguided modes are responsible for the spectrally narrowed PL.
- Angle-dependent PL provides insights into light-matter interactions in organic thin films.
