Date: November 13, 2015
Professor Deirdre O’Carroll has won a highly-competitive Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant from the National Science Foundation for her work on developing nanoscale photonic structures to increase the stability of blue phosphorescent light emitting molecules. This is a 5 year grant totaling $490,380. The grant entitled “CAREER: Nanophotonic Radiative Decay Rate Engineering for Stable Blue Organic Phosphorescence” (DMR-1554954) will enable Professor O’Carroll to develop nanomaterials that can extend the operational lifetime of high-efficiency blue organic light-emitting devices used for emerging display and lighting technologies.
Abstract
Display and lighting technologies that use organic light-emitting materials are emerging as energy-efficient, versatile alternatives to liquid-crystal displays and inorganic light-emitting diode (LED)-based lighting. However, high-efficiency blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices exhibit operational lifetimes that are 20 to 45 times shorter than high-efficiency green and red organic phosphorescent devices, which limit their commercial use. This project employs photonic nanostructures to increase the stability of high-efficiency, blue organic light-emitting materials with the overall aim of extending the operational lifetime organic light-emitting devices. In addition, the project involves students and the public in scientific experimentation through an interactive public lifetime experiment, built by undergraduate and K-12 students, to stimulate interest in next-generation light-emitting materials and to enable the findings of the project to be communicated to audiences beyond the academic community. Graduate and undergraduate researchers working on the project have opportunities to take part in international research experiences to expand their research skills, foster international scientific collaborations and gain global perspectives of the technical challenges faced by developing countries.
