All-polymer optoelectronic devices

Composites of nanoparticles and conjugated polymers that exhibit composition-tunable optical constants have been developed for use in semiconducting photonic structures. For example, the 550-nanometer wavelength in-plane refractive index of poly(p-phenylenevinylene)-silica composites can be tailored over the range of 1.6 to 2.7, allowing efficient distributed Bragg reflectors and waveguides to be fabricated. Low levels of chemical doping improve electrical conductivity through these structures without detriment to their photonic properties. Exemplifying these concepts, all-polymer microcavities and microcavity light-emitting diodes were demonstrated. Appropriate confinement of photons and electron-hole pairs in these organic semiconductor-based structures can be achieved.