The unique optical properties exhibited by organic compounds
with delocalized conjugated pi-electrons make these compounds ideal for
fabricating a wide variety of optical and electro-optical devices. Moreover, the
process for fabricating these materials into devices is relatively easy.
Consequently, these factors have stimulated significant research into the
integration of these materials into optical and electro-optical devices.
Still, despite substantial advances, researchers have yet to
fully optimize devices employing these compounds. Specifically, problems persist
physically among many of the organic materials currently used in optical and
electro-optical devices. For example, many of the organic compounds used in
these devices are difficult to synthesize. Likewise, other materials fail to
provide optimal emissive or absorptive efficiency. Meanwhile still, other
materials demonstrate less than ideal stability.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a
class of pi-conjugated azaporphyrins that significantly improves the emissive
and absorptive efficiency in optical and electro-optical devices. Specifically,
these azaporphyrins integrate the advantages of both the phthalocyanine (strong
absorption in the visible range) and the porphyrin (highly emissive) analogues
currently used in optical and electro-optical devices into a single material.
The ability to function efficiently both as an absorber and an emitter opens up
these azaporphyrins to use in a much broader range of applications.
Potential Applications
- Optical and Electro-Optical Devices (Absorbers/Emitters)
- light emitting diodes
- organic thin solar cells
- dye-sensitized solar cells
- organic concentrators
- solar hydrogen generation.
Benefits and Advantages
- Improves Absorptive and Emissive Efficiency – provides
strong absorption in the visible range while also providing high emissivity
- Integrates Absorbability and Emissivity into a Single
Device – sheds material mass and volume requirements, thereby, also reducing
costs of productions and operation; allows a broader range of uses through
integration of both functions into a single device
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