Clarification of the Molecular Doping Mechanism in Organic Single-Crystalline Semiconductors and their Application in Color-Tunable Light-Emitting Devices.

Organic single-crystalline semiconductors with long-range periodic order have attracted much attention for potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices due to their high carrier mobility, highly thermal stability, and low impurity content. Molecular doping has been proposed as a valuable strategy for improving the performance of organic semiconductors and semiconductor-based devices. However, a fundamental understanding of the inherent doping mechanism is still a key challenge impeding its practical application. In this study, solid evidence for the "perfect" substitutional doping mechanism of the stacking mode between the guest and host molecules in organic single-crystalline semiconductors using polarized photoluminescence spectrum measurements and first-principles calculations is provided. The molecular host-guest doping is further exploited for efficient color-tunable and even white organic single-crystal-based light-emitting devices by controlling the doping concentration. The clarification of the molecular doping mechanism in organic single-crystalline semiconductor host-guest system paves the way for their practical application in high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Surface plasmon-enhanced amplified spontaneous emission from organic single crystals by integrating graphene/copper nanoparticle hybrid nanostructures.

Organic single crystals have attracted great attention because of their advantages such as high carrier mobility and high thermal stability. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is an important parameter for the optoelectronic applications of organic single crystals. Here, surface plasmon-enhanced ASE from the organic single crystals has been demonstrated by integrating graphene/copper nanoparticle (Cu NP) hybrid nanostructures. Graphene is fully accommodating to the topography of Cu NPs by the transfer-free as-grown method for the configuration of the hybrid nanostructures, which makes full electrical contact and strong interactions between graphene and the local electric field of surface plasmon resonances. The enhanced localized surface plasmon resonances induced by the hybrid nanostructures result in an enhanced intensity and lowered threshold of ASE from the organic single crystals. Moreover, the as-grown graphene sheets covering fully and uniformly on the Cu NPs act as a barrier against oxidation, and results in an enhanced stability of the fluorescence from the crystals.

As-grown graphene/copper nanoparticles hybrid nanostructures for enhanced intensity and stability of surface plasmon resonance.

The transfer-free fabrication of the high quality graphene on the metallic nanostructures, which is highly desirable for device applications, remains a challenge. Here, we develop the transfer-free method by direct chemical vapor deposition of the graphene layers on copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) to realize the hybrid nanostructures. The graphene as-grown on the Cu NPs permits full electric contact and strong interactions, which results in a strong localization of the field at the graphene/copper interface. An enhanced intensity of the localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) supported by the hybrid nanostructures can be obtained, which induces a much enhanced fluorescent intensity from the dye coated hybrid nanostructures. Moreover, the graphene sheets covering completely and uniformly on the Cu NPs act as a passivation layer to protect the underlying metal surface from air oxidation. As a result, the stability of the LSPRs for the hybrid nanostructures is much enhanced compared to that of the bare Cu NPs. The transfer-free hybrid nanostructures with enhanced intensity and stability of the LSPRs will enable their much broader applications in photonics and optoelectronics.