Review

Low-dimensional organic semiconductor crystals for advanced photonics

  • Linqing Qiu ,
  • Qiang Lv ,
  • Xuedong Wang
Expand
  • Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China

Received date: 2024-04-30

  Revised date: 2024-06-05

  Accepted date: 2024-08-05

  Online published: 2024-11-08

Abstract

In the domain of information processing, communication technology, and computation, the utilization of photons as vectors for information is a critical innovation. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are specifically designed to control and transmit light, thereby facilitating the conveyance of data. The recent surge in interest in low-dimensional organic semiconductor crystals is attributed to their unique size-tunable properties and customizable physicochemical characteristics. These features position them as prime candidates for constructing the next generation of high-performance optoelectronic devices. The discourse presented elaborates on the progress in four pivotal areas concerning low-dimensional organic semiconductor crystals: optical generation, optical transportation, optical signal conversion and optical detection. These facets are integral to PICs because they underpin the fundamental mechanisms through which information is transmitted and manipulated via photons. Despite the promising attributes associated with these low-dimensional organic semiconductors, there remain considerable challenges to integrating these materials into the photonic constituents of PICs in a manner that is both effective and scalable. The text culminates with a concise summary and a forward-looking perspective on the potential applications and future development of low-dimensional organic semiconductor crystals within the sphere of advanced photonics. This outlook considers ongoing research and the anticipated breakthroughs that could further enhance the role of these materials in the evolution of photonic technologies.

Cite this article

Linqing Qiu , Qiang Lv , Xuedong Wang . Low-dimensional organic semiconductor crystals for advanced photonics[J]. Moore and More, 2025 , 1(4) : 339 -355 . DOI: 10.1007/s44275-024-00010-3

References

[1] Solli DR, Jalali B (2015) Analog optical computing. Nature Photon 9:704-706. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2015.208
[2] Cristiani I, Lacava C, Rademacher G, Puttnam BJ, Luìs RS, Antonelli C et al (2022) Roadmap on multimode photonics. J Opt 24:083001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8986/ac7a48
[3] Bogaerts W, Perez D, Capmany J, Miller D, Poon J, Englund D et al (2020) Programmable photonic circuits. Nature 586:207-216. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2764-0
[4] Kumar AV, Godumala M, Ravi J, Chandraseka R (2022) A broadband, multiplexed-visible-light-transport in composite flexible-organic-crystal waveguide. Angew Chem Int Ed 61:e202212382. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202212382
[5] Ravi J, Chandrasekar R (2021) Micromechanical fabrication of resonator waveguides integrated four-port photonic circuit from flexible organic single crystals. Adv Optical Mater 9:2100550. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202100550
[6] Annadhasan M, Agrawal AR, Bhunia S, Pradeep VV, Zade SS, Reddy CM et al (2020) Mechanophotonics: flexible single-crystal organic waveguides and circuits. Angew Chem Int Ed 59:13852-13858. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202003820
[7] Liao Q, Xu ZZ, Zhong XL, Dang W, Shi Q, Zhang C et al (2014) An organic nanowire waveguide exciton-polariton sub-microlaser and its photonic application. J Mater Chem C 2:2773-2778. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32474E
[8] Liu Z, Xu J, Chen D, Shen G (2015) Chem Soc Rev 44:1618. Liu Z, Xu J, Chen D, Shen GZ. (2015) Flexible electronics based on inorganic nanowires. Chem Soc Rev 44:161-192. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CS00116H
[9] Liu X, Long YZ, Liao L, Duan XF, Fan ZY (2012) Large-scale integration of semiconductor nanowires for high-performance flexible electronics. ACS Nano 6:1888-1900. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn204848r
[10] Rackauskas S, Barbero N, Barolo C, Viscardi G (2017) ZnO nanowire application in chemoresistive sensing: a review. Nanomaterials 7:381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano7110381
[11] Fang HH, Yang J, Feng J, Yamao T, Hotta S, Sun HB (2014) Functional organic single crystals for solid-state laser applications. LaserPhotonics Rev 8:687-715. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.201300222
[12] Garcia-Frutos EM. (2013) Small organic single-crystalline one-dimensional micro- and nanostructures for miniaturized devices. J Mater Chem C 1:3633-3645. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC30143E
[13] Quan LN, Kang J, Ning CZ, Yang PD (2019) Nanowires for photonics. Chem Rev 119:9153-9169. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00240
[14] Min SY, Kim TS, Lee Y, Cho H, Xu WT, Lee TW (2015) Organic nanowire fabrication and device applications. Small 11:45-62. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201401487
[15] Zhu HM, Fu YP, Meng F, Wu XX, Gong ZZ, Ding Q et al (2015) Lead halide perovskite nanowire lasers with low lasing thresholds and high quality factors. Nat Mater 14:636-642. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4271
[16] Clark J, Lanzani G (2010) Organic photonics for communications. Nat Photonics 4:438-446. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2010.160
[17] Chandrasekar R (2022) Mechanophotonics-a guide to integrating microcrystals toward monolithic and hybrid all-organic photonic circuits. Chem Commun 58:3415-3428 https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CC00044J
[18] Pradeep VV, Tardio C, Torres-Moya I, Rodríguez AM, Kumar AV, Annadhasan M et al (2021) Mechanical processing of naturally bent organic crystalline microoptical waveguides and junctions. Small 17:2006795. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202006795
[19] Lv Q, Wang XD (2022) Low-dimensional organic structures with hierarchical components for advanced photonics. Sci Bull 67:991994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2022.04.005
[20] Zhuo MP, Fei XY, Tao YC, Fan J, Wang XD, Xie WF et al (2019) In situ construction of one-dimensional component-interchange organic core/shell microrods for multicolor continuous-variable optical waveguide. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 11:5298-5305. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b22317
[21] Yu Y, Li ZZ, Wu JJ, Wei GQ, Tao YC, Pan ML et al (2019) Transformation from nonlasing to lasing in organic solid-state through the cocrystal engineering. ACS Photonics 6:1798-1803. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.9b00606
[22] Zhuo MP, He GP, Yuan Y, Tao YC, Wei GQ, Wang XD et al (2020) CCS Chem 2:413-424. https://doi.org/10.31635/ccschem.020.202000171
[23] Lu XM, Wang XD, Liao Q, Fu HB (2015) Controlled self-assembly of organic microcrystals for laser applications. J Phys Chem C 119:22108-22113. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b06063
[24] Wang J, Zhao YF, Zhang JH, Zhang JY, Yang B, Wang Y et al (2007) Assembly of one-dimensional organic luminescent nanowires based on quinacridone derivatives. J Phys Chem C 111:9177-9183. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp072488x
[25] Wu JJ, Gao HF, Lai R, Zhuo MP, Feng JG, Wang XD et al (2020) Near-infrared organic single-crystal nanolaser arrays activated by excited-state intramolecular proton transfer. Matter 2:1233-1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2020.01.023
[26] Wang XD, Li ZZ, Zhuo MP, Wu Y, Chen S, Yao JN et al (2017) Tunable near-infrared organic nanowire nanolasers. Adv Funct Mater 27:1703470. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.20170347
[27] Feng JG, Jiang XY, Yan XX, Wu YC, Su B, Fu HB et al (2017) “Capillary-bridge lithography” for patterning organic crystals toward mode-tunable microlaser arrays. Adv Mater 29:1603652. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201603652
[28] Xu ZZ, Liao Q, Shi Q, Zhang H, Yao JN, Fu HB (2012) Low-threshold nanolasers based on slab-nanocrystals of H-aggregated organic semiconductors. Adv Mater 24:216-220. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201201579
[29] Grosshans F, Van Assche G, Wenger J, Brouri R, Cerf NJ, Grangier P (2003) Quantum key distribution using gaussian-modulated coherent states. Nature 421:238-241. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01289
[30] Bisri SZ, Takenobu T, Iwasa Y (2014) The pursuit of electrically-driven organic semiconductor lasers. J Mater Chem C 2:2827-2836. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC32206H
[31] Ou Q, Peng Q, Shuai ZG (2020) Computational screen-out strategy for electrically pumped organic laser materials. Nat Commun 11:4485. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18144-x
[32] Li YJ, Yan Y, Zhao YS, Yao JN (2016) Construction of nanowire heterojunctions: photonic function-oriented nanoarchitectonics. Adv Mater 28:1319-1326. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201502577
[33] Li YJ, Hong Y, Peng Q, Yao JN, Zhao YS (2017) Orientation-dependent exciton-plasmon coupling in embedded organic/metal nanowire heterostructures. ACS Nano 11:10106-10112. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.7b04584
[34] Torii K, Higuchi T, Mizuno K, Bando K, Yamashita K, Sasaki F et al (2017) Organic nanowire lasers with epitaxially grown crystals of semiconducting oligomers. Chem Nanomater 3:625-631. https://doi.org/10.1002/cnma.201700137
[35] O’Carroll D, Lieberwirth I, Redmond G (2007) Microcavity effects and optically pumped lasing in single conjugated polymer nanowires. Nat Nanotechnol 2:180-184. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2007.35
[36] Yu ZY, Wu YS, Xiao L, Chen JW, Liao Q, Yao JN et al (2017) Organic phosphorescence nanowire lasers. J Am Chem Soc 139:6376-6381. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b01574
[37] Wu JJ, Wang XD, Liao LS (2022) Advances in energy-level systems of organic lasers. Laser Photonics Rev 16:2200366. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202200366
[38] Hill MT, Gather MC (2014) Advances in small lasers. Nat Photonics 8:908-918. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.239
[39] Zhao YS, Fu HB, Peng AD, Ma Y, Liao Q, Yao JN (2010) Construction and optoelectronic properties of organic one-dimensional nanostructures. Acc Chem Res 43:409-418. https://doi.org/10.1021/ar900219n
[40] Mizuno H, Maeda T, Yanagi H, Katsuki H, Aresti M, Quochi F et al (2014) Optically pumped lasing from single crystals of a cyano-substituted thiophene/phenylene co-oligomer. Adv Opt Mater 2:529-534. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201400083
[41] Mizuno H, Haku U, Marutani Y, Ishizumi A, Yanagi H, Sasaki F et al (2012) Single crystals of 5,5'-bis(4'-methoxybiphenyl-4-yl)-2,2'-bithiophene for organic laser media. Adv Mater 24:5744-5749. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201202470
[42] Chen S, Wang XD, Zhuo MP, Wei GQ, Wu JJ, Liao LS (2021) Single-crystal organic heterostructure for single-mode unidirectional whispering-gallery-mode laser. Adv Optical Mater 10:2101931. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202101931
[43] Zhang C, Zou CL, Zhao Y, Dong CH, Wei C, Wang HL et al (2015) Organic printed photonics: from microring lasers to integrated circuits. Sci Adv 1:e1500257. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500257
[44] Shao LB, Jiang XF, Yu XC, Li BB, Clements WR, Vollmer F et al (2013) Detection of single nanoparticles and lentiviruses using microcavity resonance broadening. Adv Mater 26:991-991. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201400142
[45] O’Carroll D, Redmond G (2008) Polyfluorene nanowire active waveguides as sub-wavelength polarized light sources. Phys E 40:2468-2473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physe.2007.10.009
[46] Cui QH, Peng Q, Luo Y, Jiang YQ, Yan YL, Wei C et al (2018) Asymmetric photon transport in organic semiconductor nanowires through electrically controlled exciton diffusion. Sci Adv 4:eaap9861. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aap9861
[47] Annadhasan M, Basak S, Chandrasekhar N, Chandrasekar R (2020) Next-generation organic photonics: the emergence of flexible crystal optical waveguides. Adv Opt Mater 8:2000959. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202000959
[48] Ma YX, Xu CF, Mao XR, Wu Y, Yang J, Xu LP et al (2023) Oriented self-assembly of hierarchical branch organic crystals for asymmetric photonics. J AM Chem Soc 145:9285-9291. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c02061
[49] Wu B, Zheng M, Zhuo MP, Zhao YD, Su Y, Fan JZ et al (2023) Organic bilayer heterostructures with built-in exciton conversion for 2D photonic encryption. Adv Mater 35:2306541. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202306541
[50] Law M, Sirbuly DJ, Johnson JC, Goldberger J, Saykally RJ, Yang P (2004) Nanoribbon waveguides for subwavelength photonics integration. Science 305:1269-1273. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1100999
[51] Xia Y, Yang P, Sun Y, Wu Y, Mayers B, Gates B et al (2003) One-dimensional nanostructures: synthesis, characterization, and applications. Adv Mater 15:353-389. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200390087
[52] Kang KT, Park J, Suh D, Choi WS (2019) Synergetic behavior in 2D layered material/complex oxide heterostructures. Adv Mater 31:1803732. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201803732
[53] Liang S-J, Cheng B, Cui X, Miao F (2020) Van der waals heterostructures for high-performance device applications: challenges and opportunities. Adv Mater 32:1903800. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201903800
[54] Wu JK, Li Q, Xue GB, Chen HZ, Li HY (2017) Preparation of single-crystalline heterojunctions for organic electronics. Adv Mater 29:1606101. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201606101
[55] Lezama IG, Nakano M, Minder NA, Chen Z, Di Girolamo FV et al (2012) Single-crystal organic charge-transfer interfaces probed using Schottky-gated heterostructures. Nat Mater 11:788-794. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3383
[56] Li HB, Wu JK, Takahashi K, Ren J, Wu RH, Cai HY et al (2019) Organic heterojunctions formed by interfacing two single crystals from a mixed solution. J Am Chem Soc 141:10007-10015. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b03819
[57] Yan Y, Zhang C, Zheng JY, Yao J, Zhao YS (2012) Optical modulation based on direct photon-plasmon coupling in organic/metal nanowire heterojunctions. Adv Mater 24:5681-5686. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201202698
[58] Kong QH, Liao Q, Xu ZZ, Wang XD, Yao JN, Fu HB (2014) Epitaxial self-assembly of binary molecular components into branched nanowire heterostructures for photonic applications. J Am Chem Soc 136:2382-2388. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja410069k
[59] Zheng JY, Yan YL, Wang XD, Zhao YS, Huang JX, Yao JN (2012) Wire-on-wire growth of fluorescent organic heterojunctions. J Am Chem Soc 134:2880-2883. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja209815f
[60] Chen S, Wang XD, Zhuo MP, Wei GQ, Wu JJ, Liao LS (2022) Single-crystal organic heterostructure for single-mode unidirectional whispering-gallery-mode laser. Adv Opt Mater 10:2101931
[61] Pardeep VV, Chandraseka R (2022) Micromanufacturing of geometrically and dimensionally precise molecular single-crystal photonic microresonators via focused ion beam milling. Adv Optical Mater 10:2201150. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202201150
[62] Pardeep VV, Chosenyah M, Mamonov E Chandrasekar R (2023) Crystal photonics foundry: geometrical shaping of molecular single crystals into next generation optical cavities. Nanoscale 15:12220-12226. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR02229C
[63] Pardeep VV, Kumar AV, Chandrasekar R (2023) A tandem approach to fabricate a hybrid, organic-add-drop filter using single-crystal disk-resonators and pseudo-plastic crystal waveguides. Laser Photonics Rev 17:2300552. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202300552
[64] Zhuo MP, Wu JJ, Wang XD, Tao YC, Yuan Y, Liao LS (2019) Hierarchical self-assembly of organic heterostructure nanowires. Nat Commun 10:3839. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11731-7
[65] Zhu WG, Zheng RH, Zhen YG, Yu ZY, Dong HL, Fu HB et al (2015) Rational design of charge-transfer interactions in halogen-bonded co-crystals toward versatile solid-state optoelectronics. J Am Chem Soc 137:11038-11046. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b05586
[66] Kagarise RE (1995) Spectroscopic studies on the soaps of phenylstearic acid. I. infrared absorption spectra and the hydrolysis of soap films. J Phys Chem 59:271-277. https://doi.org/10.1021/J150525A019
[67] Zhuo MP, Su Y, Qu YK, Chen S, He GP, Yuan Y et al (2021) Hierarchical self-assembly of organic core/multi-shell microwires for trichromatic white-light sources. Adv Mater 33:2102719. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202102719
[68] Ge Z, Xu N, Zhu Y, Zhao K, Ma Y, Li G et al (2022) Visible to mid-infrared photodetection based on flexible 3D graphene/organic hybrid photodetector with ultrahigh responsivity at ambient conditions. ACS Photonics 9:59-67. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c01690
[69] Huang JF, Lee J, Vollbrecht J, Brus VV, Dixon AL, Cao DX et al (2020) A high-performance solution-processed organic photodetector for near-infrared sensing. Adv Mater 32:1906027. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201906027
[70] Park S, Fukuda K, Wang M, Lee C, Yokota T, Jin H et al (2018) Ultraflexible near-infrared organic photodetectors for conformal photoplethysmogram sensors. Adv Mater 30:1802359. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201802359
[71] Zhang XJ, Jie JS, Deng W, Shang QX, Wang JC, Wang H et al (2016) Alignment and patterning of ordered small-molecule organic semiconductor micro-/nanocrystals for device applications. Adv Mater 28:2475-2503. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201504206
[72] Baeg KJ, Binda M, Natali D, CaironiMand Noh YY (2013) Organic light detectors: photodiodes and phototransistors. Adv Mater 25:4267-4295. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201204979
[73] Dong HL, Zhu HF, Meng Q, Gong X, Hu WP (2012) Organic photoresponse materials and devices. Chem Soc Rev 41:1754-1808. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CS15205J
[74] Wu G, Chen C, Liu S, Fan CC, Li HY, Chen HZ (2015) Solution-grown organic single-crystal field-effect transistors with ultrahigh response to visible-blind and deep UV signals. Adv Electron Mater 1:1500136. https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.201500136
[75] Smithson CS, Wu YL, Wigglesworth T, Zhu SP (2014) A more than six orders of magnitude UV-responsive organic field-effect transistor utilizing a benzothiophene semiconductor and disperse red 1 for enhanced charge separation. Adv Mater 27:228-233. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201404193
[76] Kim KH, Bae SY, Kim YS, Hur JA, Hoang MH, Lee TW et al (2011) Highly photosensitive J-aggregated single-crystalline organic transistors. Adv Mater 23:3095-3099. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201100944
[77] Tseng CW, Huang DC, Tao YT (2012) Electric bistability induced by incorporating self-assembled monolayers/aggregated clusters of azobenzene derivatives in pentacene-based thin-film transistors. Appl ACS Mater Interfaces 4:5483-8491. https://doi.org/10.1021/am3013906
[78] Dutta S, Narayan KS (2004) Gate-voltage control of optically- induced charges and memory effects in polymer field-effect transistors. Adv Mater 16:2151-2155. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200400084
[79] Queisser HJ, Theodorou DE (1986) Decay kinetics of persistent photoconductivity in semiconductors. Phys Rev B 33:4027-4033. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.33.4027
[80] Tyo JS, Goldstein DL, Chenault DB, Shaw JA (2006) Review of passive imaging polarimetry for remote sensing applications. Appl Opt 45:5453-5469. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.45.005453
[81] Liu FC, Zheng SJ, He XX, Chaturvedi A, He JF, Chow WL et al (2016) Highly sensitive detection of polarized light using anisotropic 2D reS2. Adv Funct Mater 26:1169-1177. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201504546
[82] Wang TY, Zhao K, Wang PW, Shen WF, Gao HK, Qin ZS et al (2022) Intrinsic linear dichroism of organic single crystals toward high-performance polarization-sensitive photodetectors. Adv Mater 34:2105665. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202105665
[83] Wang XT, Li YT, Huang L, Jiang XW, Jiang L, Dong HL et al (2017) Short-wave near-infrared linear dichroism of two-dimensional germanium selenide. J Am Chem Soc 139:14976-14982. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b06314
Outlines

/