Metal nanoparticle mediated space charge and its optical control in an organic hole-only device

Giovanni Ligorio (1) , M.V. Nardi (1) , R. Steyrleuthner (2) , Dris Ihiawakrim (3) , N. Crespo-Monteiro (4) , Martin Brinkmann (5) , D. Neher (2) , Norbert Koch (1)

1 Humboldt University Of Berlin
2 University of Potsdam = Universität Potsdam
3 IPCMS - Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg
4 LHC - Laboratoire Hubert Curien [Saint Etienne]
5 ICS - Institut Charles Sadron

We reveal the role of localized space charges in hole-only devices based on an organic semiconductor with embedded metal nanoparticles (MNPs). MNPs act as deep traps for holes and reduce the current density compared to a device without MNPs by a factor of 104 due to the build-up of localized space charge. Dynamic MNPs charged neutrality can be realized during operation by electron transfer from excitons created in the organic matrix, enabling light sensing independent of device bias. In contrast to the previous speculations, electrical bistability in such devices was not observed.

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]; Micro and nanotechnologies/Microelectronics

Giovanni Ligorio, M.V. Nardi, R. Steyrleuthner, Dris Ihiawakrim, N. Crespo-Monteiro, et al.. Metal nanoparticle mediated space charge and its optical control in an organic hole-only device. Applied Physics Letters, 2016, 108 (15), ⟨10.1063/1.4945710⟩. ⟨ujm-01309250⟩