All-polymer optoelectronic devices

Composites of nanoparticles and conjugated polymers that exhibit compositio n-tunable optical constants have been developed for use in semiconducting p hotonic structures. For example, the 550-nanometer wavelength in-plane refr active index of poly(p-phenylenevinylene)-silica composites can be tailored over the range of 1.6 to 2.7, allowing efficient distributed Bragg reflect ors 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 microcavitie s and microcavity light-emitting diodes were demonstrated. Appropriate conf inement of photons and electron-hole pairs in these organic semiconductor-b ased structures can be achieved.