Optical Materials
By Dr. Rajni Bala
Light Interaction with Materials
Optical Properties of Metals:
Absorption
The fraction of beam that is absorbed is related to the thickness of the materials and the manner in which
photons interact with the material’s structure
I’T = I’0e-bx
Absorption occurs by two mechanisms
Rayleigh Scattering: Photons interact with
the electrons without any change in their
energy
Compton Scattering: Interacting photons
knock out an electron loosing some of its
energy during the process
Optical Properties of Metals:
Reflection
Optical Properties of Metals:
Refraction
Light that is transmitted into the interior of
transparent materials experiences a decrease in
velocity, and as a result, is bent at the interface
(REFRACTION)
The refractive index n of a material is defined as the
ratio of the velocity in a vacuum c to the velocity of
light in the medium v
n = c/v
Optical Properties of Metals:
Transmission
The fraction of light beam that is not absorbed or
reflected is transmitted through the material
Depends on the losses that are incurred by absorption
and reflection
For an incident beam of intensity Io that impinges on
the front surface of a specimen of thickness x and
absorption coefficient b, the transmitted intensity IT at
the back face is
I’T I’0= (1-R)2 e-bx
Selected Absorption: Non Metals
Non-metallic materials consist of various energy band structures. Thus, all four optical phenomena
are important
Glass, plastics and semiconductors
Classification
Materials are classified on the basis of their interaction with
visible light
• TRANSPARENT: Capable of transmitting light with
relatively little absorption and reflection
• TRANSLUCENT: Light is transmitted diffusely; light is
scattered within the interior, to the degree that objects are
not cleasrly distinguishable when viewed through a
specimen of the material
• OPAQUE: Impervious to the transmission of visible light
Origin of Color
Applications: Luminescence
Materials are capable of absorbing energy and then reemitting visible light by
phenomenon called luminescence
Based on source for electron excitation, it is of three types
• PHOTO-LUMINESCENCE When light is emitted in less than a second after excitation, the
phenomenon is fluorescence (photo-luminescence)
• CATHODE-LUMINESCENCE For longer emission times, the term phosphorescence is used
• ELECTRO-LUMINESCENCE Light is emitted as a result of electron-hole recombination events that are
induced in a forward-biased diode
The device that experiences electroluminescence is the LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)
Photoluminescence
• Occurs in fluorescent lamps
• UV radiation from low-pressure mercury arc is
converted to visible light by calcium halo-
phosphate phosphor
• Antimony, Sb3+ ions provide a blue emission
while manganese, Mn2+ ions provide an
orange-red emission band
Cathode-luminescence
LASER
Produced by an energized cathode Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
which generates a beam of high energy
bombarding electrons. E.g. Applications All the radiative electron transitions are spontaneous; that
include electron microscope, cathode- an electron falls from a high energy state to a lower without
ray oscilloscope, color television screens any external provocation. These transition events occur
independently of one another and at random times,
producing radiation that is incoherent
With lasers coherent light is generated by electron
transitions initiated by an external stimulus
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED)
• Solid state devices composed of thin films of organic molecules that is
100 to 500 nanometres thick/ Any light emitting diode in which
organic layers are responsible for light emission
• Emits light with the application of electricity.
• Doesn’t require any backlight. i.e., they are self emitting.
• Made from carbon and hydrogen.
Basic Principle
Electroluminescence Material emits light in response to electric field
applied across it
OLED Structure
• A typical OLED is composed of a layer of organic materials situated between
two electrodes, the anode and cathode, all deposited on a substrate.
• The organic molecules are electrically conductive as a result of delocalization
of pi electrons caused by conjugation over part or the entire molecule.
• These materials have conductivity levels ranging from insulators to conductors,
and are therefore considered organic semiconductors.
• - HOMO and LUMO of organic semiconductors are analogous to the
valence and conduction bands of inorganic semiconductors.
• Originally, the most basic polymer OLEDs consisted of a single
organic layer.
• One example was the first light-emitting device synthesized by J. H.
Burroughes et al., which involved a single layer of poly(p-phenylene
vinylene).
• However multilayer OLEDs can be fabricated with two or more layers
in order to improve device efficiency.
OLED Working • A voltage is applied across the anode and cathode
• Current flows from cathode to anode through the organic
layers
• Electrons flow to emissive layer from the cathode
• Electrons are removed from conductive layer leaving holes
• Holes jump into emissive layer
• Electrons and hole combine and light is emitted
Fabrication Method
Spin Coating
In Spin coating, a drop of the material is deposited onto a substrate and rotated at high speed until
it spreads to the desired thickness.
Ink jet printing
Ink jet printing to pattern polymers (Full Color Applications)
Roll to roll printing
production of flexible OLED’s
Types of OLED
Types of OLED
Why it’s so great??
• Less Power Consumption
• Lower cost in the future
• Flexible display
• Thin display
• Safer for environment
Smart Watches with OLED display
Applications
• TVs
• Cell phone screens
• Computer screens
• Lights
• Portable device displays
Drawbacks of OLED Future Aspects
• Lifespan
• Finding a cheap way to produce
• Easily Damageable
• Roll-to-Roll manufacturing
• Outdoor performance
• Increasing efficiency of blue OLED
• Complex fabrication methods
• Increasing lifespan of OLED
Future Possibilities
